Police urged to investigate journalist’s death in Kalimantan

The Press Council has urged the National Police to investigate the death of Kompas daily journalist, Muhammad Syaifullah, who was found dead in his house in Kalimantan on Monday.

The remains of Syaifullah were found with a foam-like discharge in his mouth, leading questions of a possible murder, perhaps related his writings on environmental damage caused by mining activities in Kalimantan, reported kompas.com.

“The public suspects Syaifullah’s death had something to do with his reporting on coal mining activities. The police are obligated to investigate,” said the council’s chief of public complaints and ethics commission Agus Sudibyo.

Agus said that the council would monitor the investigation of Syaifullah’s death.

Meanwhile, a recent autopsy conducted by the local police’s Bhayangkari Hospital concluded Syaifullah died of a brain hemorrhage caused by diabetes and hypertension.