Shooting of Indonesian Diplomat in Peru Investigated as Contract Killing
Peruvian authorities have launched an investigation into the shooting death of Indonesian diplomat Zetro Leonardo Purba, calling it a possible contract killing as the country grapples with a surge in violent crime.
Purba, 40, a junior officer at the Indonesian Embassy in Lima, was shot three times on Monday night as he returned home on a bicycle. Surveillance footage shows a gunman in a helmet firing twice, knocking Purba to the ground, before shooting him once more at close range. The assailant fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.
Interior Minister Carlos Malaver told lawmakers that the crime was being treated as a “qualified homicide in the form of a contract killing.” Authorities emphasized that nothing was stolen, suggesting a targeted attack.
Purba, who had arrived in Peru only five months ago, leaves behind a wife and three children.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono demanded a “thorough, transparent, and expeditious investigation” and called for increased protection for Indonesian citizens and diplomatic personnel in Peru.
Peru’s Foreign Ministry vowed to support Indonesia’s ambassador and staff, while Foreign Affairs Minister Elmer Schialer admitted the case highlighted the country’s worsening security crisis.
Official data shows 6,041 homicides in Peru from January to mid-August 2025 — the highest toll for that period since 2017. Extortion cases also surged, with 15,989 complaints filed in the first seven months of the year, a 28% increase compared to 2024.
President Dina Boluarte’s government has struggled to control rising violence, with authorities acknowledging that the killing of Purba is a stark reminder of the country’s escalating insecurity.
