A 39-year-old junior diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arya Daru Pangayunan, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in his rented room in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday morning, July 8, 2025, sparking shock and grief among Indonesia’s diplomatic community.

Daru, who served with distinction in various international postings, including at the Indonesian embassies in Dili, Timor Leste and Buenos Aires, Argentina, was most recently assigned to the Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens (PWNI).

His work had involved sensitive matters, including testifying in a human trafficking case involving Indonesian nationals trafficked to Cambodia.

The case has also raised concern over the safety and well-being of civil servants handling sensitive international matters, particularly in the field of citizen protection and transnational crime.

His lifeless body was discovered by the caretaker of the boarding house around 8:30 am local time on July 8, after his wife reported being unable to reach him by phone earlier that morning. “She tried calling him at dawn, but the phone was not active,” Menteng Police Chief, Commissioner Rezha Rahandhi, told a press conference, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

When the room was opened, Daru was found with his face wrapped in duct tape and covered in a blanket, authorities said. Police have launched a full investigation, collecting several items from the scene including the victim’s wallet, clothing, a pillow, and various medications.

Daru’s sudden death has sent shockwaves through the foreign ministry and the broader diplomatic corps. Tributes poured in from colleagues and missions abroad, including the Indonesian Consulate General in Penang, Malaysia, which posted a message of mourning on Instagram.

“Arya Daru Pangayunan was a passionate young diplomat who pursued this career as a lifelong dream. He even authored an inspirational book titled Diplomat Pertama: Sebuah Pencapaian Cita-Cita. May his good deeds be accepted and may his family be granted strength and patience,” the consulate said.

Police have yet to determine whether foul play was involved, but investigators are treating the case as suspicious given the unusual condition in which the body was found.

The body is scheduled to be transported to Yogyakarta, where Daru will be buried in his hometown.

As authorities continue to investigate the case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued an official statement, but sources inside the ministry said internal support has been extended to Daru’s family.