September 3, 2025
JAKARTA – Foreign Minister Sugiono expressed condolences over the death of an Indonesian Embassy official in Lima, Peru, who was shot by an unidentified assailant in Lince district on Monday, assuring that the official’s rights will be upheld and that the government will closely monitor the investigation.
Sugiono has communicated with the Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer to request a thorough and transparent investigation into the case, as well as enhanced protections for diplomatic staff and Indonesian citizens in Peru.
“The Indonesian government will continue to monitor the progress of the investigation with Peruvian authorities and is committed to ensuring that justice is served,” the Indonesian foreign ministry said in a Tuesday statement.
Peruvian state news agency Andina reported that the deceased, Zetro Leonardo Purba, was intercepted by an unidentified person while cycling with his wife along César Vallejo avenue, just a few meters from the apartment he was renting.
CCTV footage shows that the 40-year-old was shot three times and the perpetrator fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.
Zetro was rushed to a nearby Javier Prado clinic, where medical staff confirmed his death upon arrival. His wife was unharmed but is under police protection.
Read also: Foreign Ministry diplomat found dead at rooming house
Preliminary investigation by Peruvian police suggest the assailant may have been a foreign hired gunman, according to local TV station Panamericana.
The police said in a statement posted on X on Tuesday that the crime scene had been immediately cordoned off and investigations were underway to identify and capture those responsible.
The shooting occurred in a crowded neighborhood just a few blocks from the Indonesian embassy. Zetro had been renting an apartment there since arriving in Peru five months ago.
He worked as chancery staff at the embassy, managing finance, state inventory, office administration and human resources.
Before his posting in Peru, Zetro worked in the ministry’s ASEAN Directorate General in 2024 and had previously served at the Indonesian mission in Melbourne, Australia, from 2019 to 2022. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Minister Sugiono also requested the Indonesian Embassy in Lima to handle the repatriation of Zetro’s body to Indonesia.
“We have asked our ambassador in Lima to continuously follow up on the investigation and to carry out the procedures for the repatriation of the deceased,” the Gerindra Party politician said, urging all ministry staff to prioritize safety in their works.
Judha Nugraha, director of citizen protection at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, told Kompas.com on Tuesday that the repatriation has to wait, as Peruvian authorities will conduct an autopsy of Zetro’s body on Wednesday to support their investigation.
Read also: Protect our diplomats
The incident quickly drew widespread media and public attention, with the House of Representatives’ Commission I, which oversees defense and foreign affairs, urging the ministry to review security arrangements for Indonesian representatives abroad.
“The government, especially the foreign ministry, needs to quickly assess security measures for embassies, including staff placement, coordination with local authorities and risk mitigation,” Commission deputy chair Dave Laksono said on Tuesday.
“We are also pushing for concrete steps to ensure protection, justice, and accountability in this case,” he added.
Earlier in March, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte declared a 30-day state of emergency following a surge in violence, with 459 killings recorded from Jan. 1 to March 16 and 1,909 extortions reported in January alone, AP reported.
The Indonesian embassy in Lima is not listed among “dangerous” or “vulnerable” host countries in the foreign ministry’s 2022 decree.