It’s been a tragic week for police in Bali. Besides losing North Kuta Police Brigadier Anak Agung Putu Sudiarta to an arrest gone horribly wrong, another Bali police officer died, taking his own life.
Bali Police have confirmed that Brigadier Made Suartawan, 33, a member of the Karangasem Police Narcotics Unit, shot himself in the forehead in the early hours of Monday morning at his home in Abang
Head Bali Police Spokesman Hery Wiyanto confirmed Suartawan’s death with the press.
“It’s true that one of our Narcotics Officers of Karangasem Police committed suicide early this morning. Bali Police is one big family and we offer our condolences and remorse over this incident,” Wiaynto said on Monday, as quoted by Kompas.
Police are questioning Suartawan’s wife, who he had allegedly been quarreling with before his death. Reports are saying that Suartawan had been angry with his wife for not cleaning his uniform and he had even allegedly threatened to kill her and hit her in the ear.
It is understood that Suartawan shot himself around 2 am in front of numerous family members, including his wife and his 70-year-old father.
Suartawan had apparently not returned home for three days before he killed himself.
The brigadier reportedly had two children, ages seven and five.
“We are still investigating, to find out what happened. Propam (police internal affairs) and Karangasem Police are conducting an investigation,” Wiyanto stated.
There’s speculation of whether Suartawan was drunk and of his overall psychological stability.
Karangasem Police Superintendent Sugeng Sudarso told Nusa Bali though that Suartawan’s reason for killing himself must not have been work-related, as he would regularly undergo psychological testing and was just tested a week ago. He was psychologically sound, Sudarso said.
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