TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - North Sulawesi Regional Police Head of Public Relations Sr. Comr. Jules Abraham Abast said the death of Sangihe Deputy Regent Helmud Hontong was due to disease complications.

The results were obtained after the team of doctors autopsied Helmud's body. “The preliminary result based on the autopsy by the doctors is due to disease complications. He died of illness,” said Jules to Tempo on Monday, June 14.

However, Jules stopped short of detailing the disease. According to him, the team of doctors would hold a press conference today afternoon to disclose the cause of death to the public.

“The doctors will later convey issues related to the disease complications,” said Jules.

Helmud Hontong passed away onboard Lion Air JT 740 flight en route from Bali to Makassar on Wednesday, June 9. Previously, he went on an official trip to attend a meeting with deputy regents throughout Indonesia in Bali. On the plane, Helmud coughed and started bleeding from his nose and mouth.

The Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) coordinator, Merah Johansyah Ismail, on Friday, June 11, urged law enforcers to investigate the death of Helmud.

Ismail argued that the death of Helmud Hontong was suspicious because prior to his death, the Sangihe Deputy Regent persisted against extending the mining permits of gold mining firm PT TMS which the capital is owned by a Canadian investor.

Also Read: Mining Advocacy Urges Police to Investigate Death of Sangihe Deputy Regent

ANDITA RAHMA