Jakarta. Calls are growing for a full and transparent investigation into the mysterious death of a 39-year-old Indonesian diplomat, Arya Daru Pangayunan, who was found dead in his boarding room in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on July 8.

Arya, who worked at the Directorate of the Indonesian Citizen Protection, was found dead a week ago with his face wrapped in duct tape and his body covered with a blanket. The room was locked from the inside, and there were no visible signs of violence, fueling public speculation about the true cause of his death.

“The investigation must continue until it is clear who is responsible,” House Speaker Puan Maharani told reporters on Monday.

Police are awaiting autopsy and laboratory results while considering whether an exhumation is necessary to aid the investigation. “Investigators are still gathering evidence to clarify the case,” said Jakarta Police spokesperson Ade Ary Syam.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has also visited the scene, stating it will wait for police findings before deciding on further steps. “So far, we have not found any irregularities,” said Komnas HAM Commissioner Saurlin P. Siagian.

Arya’s wife, who was in Yogyakarta, had repeatedly tried to reach him on July 7 before asking the boarding house caretaker to check on him. CCTV footage captured the caretaker’s initial checks in the early hours, and the room was finally opened around 5:30 a.m. on July 8 with the consent of Arya’s wife and the property owner.

House member Junico Siahaan shared the calls for transparency, stressing that the case must not only ensure justice for Arya but also restore public trust in the government’s commitment to protect its citizens. “This is not just about one lost life; it’s about maintaining public confidence that the state is present and protects its people,” he said.

The police have conducted multiple crime scene investigations with forensics teams and remain committed to a professional, evidence-based probe. 

Amid speculation circulating on social media that Arya might have been murdered in connection to a human trafficking court case in Japan, where he was a witness, police have urged the public not to jump to conclusions. The Foreign Ministry’s Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens, Judha Nugraha, said Arya’s death had no connection to the case.