Founder of Matahari Department Store Found Dead in Ciliwung River

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Founder of Matahari department store and owner of Matahari Recreational Park (TWM) Hari Darmawan (77) was found lifeless in the Ciliwung River not far from the location of TWM on Saturday, March 10.

According to TWM senior marketing and creative manager Ilham Fadjriansyah, on Friday evening Hari Darmawan was indeed visiting one of his properties at Cilember that was not far from TWM.

However, around 8:30 p.m., the heavy current was streaming through the Ciliwung River after the Puncak area was hit by heavy rain.

Read: Matahari Closes Another Outlet Department Stores Downsizing

“We suspect that Hari went to monitor the strong current of the Ciliwung river because his villa where he stayed was not far from the Ciliwung River,” said Ilham. He suspected that Hari had unfortunately lost his balance at the riverside and fell into the river.

TWM management team along with Search and Rescue members immediately searched the river on an inflatable boat while another team reported the incident to the Cisarua Police Sector.

Hari Darmawan’s body was found 100-meters from the last location where he was seen. “Around 06:00 a.m., the search and rescue team walked the river and found his body around 100-meters from where he went missing,” Ilham explained.

Hari Darmawan’s body was immediately taken to the Ciawi general hospital (RSUD) to undergo an autopsy. His body then was taken by his family to the funeral home located in the City of Bogor before departing to Bali where the Matahari Dept. Store founder will be buried. 

Muhammad Sidik Permana