September 2, 2025 | 11:47 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An Indonesian diplomat from the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Peru was shot dead in front of his apartment on Monday evening local time. Members of the Peruvian National Police (PNP) are at the scene investigating the crime. As reported by the Peruvian news site Infobae, police suspect revenge.
A diplomat from the Indonesian Embassy in Peru was murdered on the evening of Monday, September 1, as he was returning home with his wife, who were staying at a multi-family building on César Vallejo Street in the Lince district.
The diplomat, identified as Zetro Leonardo Purba (40), was intercepted by two men on a motorcycle. The perpetrators then fired three shots at him.
The victim was immediately taken to the Javier Prado Clinic but died due to the severity of his injuries.
The Peruvian National Police (PNP) is in the area investigating the incident. "This is the first homicide we have handled this year in the Lince district. The events and motive behind this attack are not yet known," Commissioner Guivar told the television station Perú Noticias.
"We haven't ruled out the possibility of revenge. We are conducting an investigation and conducting due diligence to determine the identities of the attackers. Based on the security camera footage we've seen, they are suspected to be foreign nationals," he added.
Arrived in Peru Five Months Ago
According to local residents, Zetro Purba arrived in the country five months ago. He served as a Junior Chancellery Administrator at the Indonesian Embassy in Lima, Peru. Since then, he has lived with his wife and two young children in an apartment located in block 3 of César Vallejo Avenue.
They revealed that he was riding a bicycle when he was killed. Cycling was part of his daily routine, as he used this smaller vehicle to travel between his diplomatic mission in San Isidro and his home.
"They must have checked him; they were waiting for him. The diplomat was coming from Arequipa Avenue to his condominium. As soon as they intercepted him, they fired three shots, one of them in the head, which resulted in his death," the police department explained to other media outlets.
The deceased's wife, who was waiting for him at the entrance of the building, was unharmed. She is now under police protection, along with other members of the deceased's family.
Those close to the victim hope the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will immediately coordinate with Indonesian authorities to assist in the investigation, including reviewing security cameras and gathering witness statements.
According to the newspaper La República, an Indonesian Embassy official, identified as Irwan Butapierre, stated that Leonardo Zetro Purba was a calm person and dedicated to his family.
“He was cycling calmly, not expecting any danger, and they shot him. (…) I don’t know why they killed him,” he said.
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