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Supporter dies of heart attack upon hearing Ahok's verdict
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A banner with a picture of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his deputy, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, is seen at Rumah Lembang campaign center on Jl. Lembang in Central Jakarta. (kompas.com/Alsadad Rudi)
A
security guard and supporter of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama died of a heart attack on Tuesday upon hearing that Ahok was found guilty of blasphemy.
Gerart Samapaty, a guard at Ahok's campaign center Rumah Lembang in Central Jakarta, was attempting to watch a live broadcast of Ahok's trial as judges were preparing to deliver a verdict, but he could not turn on his TV as he had lost its remote control, said Nong Darol Mahmada, another Ahok supporter.
"He later bought a new remote control from a hawker who happened to pass by in front of his house," said Nong as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.
Gerart turned his TV back on in time to hear the judges deliver Ahok's verdict, she said.
"He could not bear the news and passed out immediately with the hawker still in front of his house," she said.
The hawker told Gerart's child that her father was unconscious. However, minutes later, he was no longer breathing. They brought Gerart to a nearby midwife who pronounced Gerart dead.
Gerart left behind a wife and seven kids. His body will be brought to his hometown in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, to be buried. (dea)
