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An Indonesian diplomat was shot dead while cycling outside his apartment in the Peruvian capital, Lima, on Monday evening, 1 September, just five months after being posted to the country
The victim, 40-year-old Zetro Leonardo Purba, was serving as a Junior Chancellery Administrator at the Indonesian Embassy in Lima. He lived in the Lince district with his wife and two young children.
According to Peruvian police, Zetro was cycling home along César Vallejo Street when two men on a motorcycle intercepted him near his apartment building.
One of the assailants, wearing a helmet, shot him twice, causing him to fall from his bike, before firing a third fatal shot, reported Al Jazeera.
His wife, who was waiting for him at the entrance of their apartment, was unharmed. Zetro was rushed to Javier Prado Clinic but succumbed to his injuries.
Commissioner Victor Guivar of the Peruvian National Police said this was the first homicide recorded in the Lince district this year
He added that security camera footage suggested the attackers could be foreign nationals and that investigators had not ruled out revenge as a motive.
"They must have checked him; they were waiting for him," Guivar told local media.
"As soon as they intercepted him, they fired three shots, one of them in the head, which resulted in his death."
However, Indonesian officials expressed doubt that Zetro had been targeted, pointing instead to rising crime in Peru's capital.
"Peru is an unsafe country. He was calmly riding his bike, not anticipating any danger. I don't know why they killed him," embassy staffer Irwan Butapierre told La Republica.
Meanwhile, the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the killing, calling it a "lamentable" and "heinous act"
In a statement, it expressed its "deepest condolences" and promised full support to the Indonesian authorities, including enhanced police protection for embassy staff and families.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to provide all the support and assistance required by the Indonesian authorities in this matter and affirms that this crime will be thoroughly investigated," it said.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed he had spoken with his Peruvian counterpart, Elmer Schialer, to push for a rigorous investigation.
"We trust Peru will ensure the highest protection for our embassy staff, families, & citizens in [the country]," he wrote on social media.
Spoke with FM Elmer Schialer of Peru @CancilleriaPeru to convey 🇮🇩's request for a thorough investigation regarding the passing of our colleague, Mr.Zetro Leonardo Purba @kbrilima. We trust Peru will ensure the highest protection for our embassy staff, families, & citizens in 🇵🇪 pic.twitter.com/PxG5PJ1th4
— Menteri Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia (@Menlu_RI) September 2, 2025
The broad daylight killing of the diplomat comes amid worsening security conditions in Peru
Under President Dina Boluarte, homicides and extortion cases have surged.
An estimated 6,041 people were killed between January and mid-August this year, the highest for that period since 2017, while reports of extortion reached nearly 16,000 between January and July, a 28% year-on-year increase.
Zetro's death also comes just weeks after Boluarte visited Jakarta to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations with Indonesia, during which she and President Prabowo Subianto signed a free trade agreement to strengthen economic ties.
Colleagues described Zetro as a calm, family-oriented man who regularly cycled between his home and the Indonesian Embassy in San Isidro.
