Woman alive after jumping off ITC center

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 05/13/2008 10:39 AM  |  City

Investigations into the case of a woman who fell from the third floor of shopping center ITC Mangga Dua, North Jakarta, on Sunday, indicated she was attempting suicide, police said Monday.

Sulastri, 35, a resident of Jelambar Selatan in North Jakarta, was reported to have jumped over the railings and landed on top of Mulyadi, 23, who was on the first floor.

Both Sulastri and Mulyadi are now receiving medical treatment at Husada Hospital, Jl. Mangga Besar, West Jakarta.

A staff member at Husada Hospital said both Sulastri and Mulyadi arrived at the hospital at 6:40 p.m. Sunday, accompanied by Purwanto, a security guard of ITC Mangga Dua.

It was reported Monday both were still alive.

"The case is now being handled by police," said the staff member.

Head of Pademangan Police Comr. Widjanarko said Sulastri jumped off the third floor of ITC Mangga Dua because she wanted to commit a suicide.

"We asked her whether she was pushed over by another person. She responded saying she had a 'problem with her body'," Widjanarko said, as quoted by Detik.com.

He said police did not know why Sulastri tried to commit suicide as she passed out during questioning.

According to the Health Ministry, the number of suicide cases in Jakarta between 1995 and 2004 reached 1,119. Of those cases, 41 percent hanged themselves and 23 percent poisoned themselves.

World Health Organization data indicates there were at least 50,000 Indonesians who committed suicide between 2005 and 2007.

The main factors triggering suicide are isolation from society, job loss, poverty, riots causing psychological trauma and conflicts that force people to flee their hometowns and adjust to a new living situation. (uwi)

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