Peruvian authorities have identified Layro Isaac García, a 27-year-old from Havana, as the prime suspect in the murder of Indonesian diplomat Zetro Leonardo Purba. The incident occurred on September 1, 2025, in the Lince district of Lima.
According to a homicide division report from Dirincri accessed by Peru's El Comercio investigation unit, García was allegedly part of a hitman network that included Venezuelan nationals, with the crime reportedly ordered by someone known only as “Chato.”
García was apprehended by the Division of Robberies of Dirincri at a hotel in San Martín de Porres and was reportedly in Peru holding a temporary residency permit.
The report attributes the fatal shot that killed the diplomat to Isaac García, citing anthropological analysis and security camera footage as evidence confirming his involvement and identity at the crime scene.
Alleged Accomplices and Their Roles
The investigation outlines the roles of several suspected accomplices, all Venezuelan. Wuilson Soto López (24), alias “Primo,” was identified as the motorcycle driver used for the getaway. Kerbis Rojas Madriz (24) and Luis Torres Rojas (22) are believed to have conducted surveillance before the attack.
The report further explains that Torres Rojas owned the motorcycle and confessed to police the identities of García and Jhayker Echenagucia Quijada (23), alias “Malaco,” who allegedly safeguarded the murder weapon.
Investigators cited a WhatsApp conversation between Torres and Kerbis coordinating a meeting with “Chato” to collect payment as critical evidence.
Motives Behind the Crime
Initial police theories suggest “Chato” orchestrated the hit. The primary motive appears to be financial, linked to impacts on financial interests due to decisions or access by the victim to financial processes. The conflict is described as recent and operational rather than personal.
On August 29, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., members of the gang known as “Los Maleantes del Cono” allegedly began surveilling Zetro Leonardo Purba. They reportedly moved around on two motorcycles, changing clothes, unaware that municipal cameras were capturing their movements. Police intervention led them to leave the area.
On September 1, at the same hour, the gang awaited their target. Purba, after leaving work, visited a currency exchange and was assassinated at the entrance of his building on Av. César Vallejo, according to police accounts.
Purba arrived in Lima in 2025 with his family, serving as an organizing chancellor in Indonesia’s diplomatic mission in Peru. Between 2019 and 2022, he served as treasurer and household planner at the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne, Australia, before returning to Jakarta to continue his work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Peruvian authorities report that Los Maleantes del Cono is a criminal organization, primarily comprising foreign nationals, operating in northern Lima and linked to extortion and contract killings.
Understanding the Crime Dynamics in Lima
Who is Layro Isaac García?
Layro Isaac García is a 27-year-old Cuban national identified as the main suspect in the murder of Indonesian diplomat Zetro Leonardo Purba in Peru.
What is the role of Los Maleantes del Cono?
Los Maleantes del Cono is a criminal group operating in northern Lima, associated with extortion and contract killings, primarily involving foreign nationals.
What evidence links García to the murder?
Evidence linking García includes anthropological analysis and security camera footage, as well as a WhatsApp conversation between accomplices discussing payment for the crime.