Peru pledges to investigate Indonesian diplomat’s “assassination”

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By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) -An Indonesian diplomat’s killing in Lima will be thoroughly investigated, Peruvian authorities pledged on Tuesday, promising answers for what it called an “assassination.”

Zetro Leonardo Purba, who worked at Indonesia’s embassy in the Peruvian capital, died Monday night after being shot three times by an unidentified person while biking to his home, police reported.

Peru’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday it deeply regretted Purba’s assassination and would take all measures “to clarify what happened.”

Police protection would be increased for the personnel and facilities of the Indonesian embassy in Lima, it added.

A Peruvian police official, speaking to a local TV station, said “a settling of scores is not ruled out.”

According to video broadcast by local media, Purba was arriving home when he was intercepted by his attacker who could be seen wearing a helmet. That person then fled on a motorcycle driven by someone else, the video showed.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said on social media late Monday that he had spoken to Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer and requested “a thorough investigation” into the death of Purba, who served as the embassy administrator in Lima.

“We trust Peru will ensure the highest protection for our embassy staff, families and citizens in Peru,” Sugiono said.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Brendan O’Boyle; Editing by Cassandra Garrison)