Yohannes Berchmans Haerudy Natong, 25, was fatally shot in the head at around 3:30am on New Year's Day while working in the Hilton Hotel's Fluid Club in Jakarta. The killer was identified by a number of witnesses according to the Jakarta Post (5 January 2005) as Adiguna Sutowo, a high profile member of the Jakarta business elite and son of former general Ibnu Sutowo. Ibnu Sutowo was the head of the state oil and gas giant Pertamina at the time of a US$10 billion corruption scandal in 1975. Mr Sowoto's business empire includes, The Hard Rock Hotel and the Four Seasons hotels in Bali.
Mr Natong, a waiter at the Jakarta Hilton Hotel's Fluid Club, was working on New Year's Eve when presented with a credit card to pay for the bill of Adiguna Sutowo's group. Upon ringing up the bill a cashier found the card to be inactive and Mr Natong returned to Adiguna's table to inform the group that the card had been rejected. According to local media, Adiguna Sutowo flew into a rage, drew a pistol and shot Mr Natong in the head, killing him instantly.
Bullets matching the caliber used to shoot Mr Natong were later found hidden in the room of Adiguna Sutowo. It is believed a large number of people witnessed the shooting but have been too afraid to come forward to give evidence. We will see what happens.