In a significant breakthrough, the National Police of Peru apprehended five individuals, including two Cuban nationals, in connection with the shooting death of an Indonesian diplomat in Lima last week. The five suspects—comprising three Venezuelans and two Cubans—are believed to be part of the criminal gang known as Los Maleantes del Cono, implicated in the murder of Zetro Leonardo Purba, a 42-year-old official from the Indonesian embassy, on September 1.
The fatal incident unfolded on a Monday evening at 7:05 p.m., as Purba was returning on his bicycle to his residence in the Lince district of Peru's capital. He was shot outside his building on César Vallejo Avenue, where he lived with his wife and three young children. Press outlets released footage showing Purba riding his bike up to the entrance before being fatally shot by an assailant who fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.
Police Operation Uncovers Key Evidence
During a police operation on Tuesday in the San Martín de Porres district of Lima, officers seized a loaded Taurus pistol, five explosives, a motorcycle, and other items directly tied to the crime, as confirmed by the PNP. Additionally, drugs and ten cell phones were confiscated. Forensic examinations confirmed that the Taurus pistol was indeed the weapon used to kill the Indonesian diplomat, according to a report by the Argentine site Infobae.
The police identified the alleged shooter as 23-year-old Venezuelan Yaiker Antonio Echenagucia Quijada, alias “Malako.” Another suspect, Wilson José Soto López, known as “El Primo” and also from Venezuela, reportedly admitted to his involvement. Soto was the motorcycle driver during the crime, and the vehicle was recovered during the police raid. Surveillance footage corroborated the use of this motorcycle in the attack.
Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have yet to disclose the identities of the Cuban suspects or the extent of their involvement in orchestrating and executing the assassination. The suspects remain in preliminary detention for a period of seven days while police continue to gather further evidence and assess each individual's role in the events.
The case is being investigated as a suspected "contract killing," according to the Associated Press. Peru's Interior Minister, Carlos Malaver, described the attack on Purba as a "premeditated assassination" indicating a targeted hit. Malaver noted that the diplomat was not robbed, suggesting a clear intent to kill. “They were waiting for him, and the shots were aimed at his head, indicating they intended to take his life,” he stated.
The diplomat was swiftly taken to a nearby clinic, where local media reported he was pronounced dead. Purba had only been in Lima for five months with his family, serving as an organizing chancellor at his country's diplomatic mission in Peru. Between 2019 and 2022, he worked at the Consulate General of Indonesia in Melbourne, Australia, as a treasurer and household planner. Following that, he returned to Jakarta to continue his duties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Los Maleantes del Cono is largely composed of foreign nationals operating in northern Lima and has been linked to extortion and contract killings, according to Peruvian authorities. The National Police of Peru suspect the diplomat's murder was a contract hit, but the motive and the intellectual authors remain unidentified.
Understanding the Murder of the Indonesian Diplomat in Peru
Who were the suspects involved in the murder?
The suspects include three Venezuelans and two Cuban nationals, allegedly part of the criminal group Los Maleantes del Cono.
What evidence was found during the police raid?
Police seized a Taurus pistol, five explosives, a motorcycle, drugs, and ten cell phones, which were linked to the crime.
How are the authorities classifying the murder case?
The case is being treated as a suspected "contract killing," with indications that it was a targeted assassination.