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everal questions remain unanswered in the mysterious death of a key witness in the multi-trillion-rupiah e-ID graft case, leading to conspiracy theories that resemble the plot of a Hollywood movie.

Johannes Marliem, a 32-year-old Indonesian-born businessman, was found dead inside his luxury home in an upscale residential complex in Los Angeles, the United States, in the early hours of Aug. 10, local time.

He was believed to hold key evidence regarding the alleged involvement of politicians in the extremely high-profile e-ID case, which allegedly caused state losses of Rp 2.3 trillion (US$172 million). Numerous businessmen and politicians including the powerful House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman, Setya Novanto have been implicated in the plundering of the project.

Los Angeles Police officers were reportedly involved in a dramatic stand-off before Johannes’ body was found.

As of Sunday, however, no mainstream American media outlet had reported on the identity of the victim.

“The LA County Coroner’s office identified the dead suspect as Johannes Marliem, however, no additional information is available at this time,” a local media source, wehoville.com, reported on Friday.

The lack of detailed media coverage in the US, with almost no national media source confirming the victim’s identity, has led to suspicions that Johannes’ death was somehow orchestrated.

Johannes is the third person mentioned in e-ID case indictments as having role in the malfeasance to die after the alleged corruption began in 2009.

Democratic Party politician Ignatius Mulyono died of a heart attack in Jakarta in December 2015, while former Golkar lawmaker Mustokoweni died in Semarang, Central Java, in June 2010.

When asked about the speculation, however, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Febri Diansyah said only, “We should wait for more information from the local authorities [in the US] as the case is in their jurisdiction.”

Febri also denied circulating rumors suggesting that KPK investigators would fly to the US to coordinate with investigators there.

To add more spice to the speculation, the Indonesian authorities have also been tight-lipped. Several officials at the Foreign Ministry have declined to comment on Johannes’ death.

One senior official said that only Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and the ministry spokesperson were authorized to speak on the case.

“I just got off the phone again with our ambassador in [Washington] DC, who is in constant contact with the authorities in the US — there is no new information that can be disclosed at this moment,” Retno told The Jakarta Post in a short message, on Sunday.

Separately contacted, ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir confirmed that the body found in the early hours of Aug. 10 in Los Angeles was that of Johannes.

“Local authorities are still investigating the cause of death and the incident preceding it,” Armanatha told the Post. He also said that inquiries into the man’s citizenship status were being considered, as Johannes was reported to have both US and Indonesian passports.

According to the Immigration Directorate General, Johannes was recorded as entering Indonesia in July 2016 using an Indonesian passport. He renewed the passport and left for Japan in August 2016 using the new
document.

The Witness and Victim Protection Agency claimed it had offered Johannes protection after he was named in the Indonesian media.

“I think he was afraid of something, as if he had received real threats. Unfortunately, we had yet to confirm anything by the time of his death,” Hasto Atmojo Suroyo, the agency deputy chairman, said on Sunday.

Transparency International Indonesia secretary-general Dadang Trisasongko said it was natural for people to be focused on the mysterious circumstances of Johannes’ death, as they knew the case was connected to individuals with powerful influence.

Facebook user Bambang Toyo, for example, wrote on his account: “If he felt that his life was under threat, it meant he was afraid of dying. Why then did he take his own life? Mysterious.”

Johannes was president director of PT Biomorf Lone LLC, a company providing automated fingerprint identification system products under the brand name of L-1. These products were to be used for the e-ID cards. (kuk)