In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a 24-year-old soldier, Private First Class (Pratu) Andi Tambaru, took his own life after succumbing to the pressure of meeting an exorbitant dowry demand. The young soldier served with the Military Command District (Kodim) 1627 Rote Ndao in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), Indonesia.

According to reports from Korps Nusantara, Andi had confided in his friends about the challenges he faced in his relationship. His future in-laws had set a dowry demand of 250 million rupiah (approximately RM69,000) for his marriage to their daughter. However, Andi could only gather 40 million rupiah (around RM11,000), leading to immense frustration and despair.

Struggling under the weight of his financial limitations and emotional turmoil, Andi went to a secluded spot near Bandara DC Saudale Rote, under an asam tree, where he made the devastating decision to end his life. His tragic choice shocked his community and highlighted the emotional toll that cultural practices can impose.

News of Andi's death spread after his girlfriend, Manja Mooy, shared her sorrow on Instagram, describing him as "the best man she ever knew." The post was a poignant reminder of the depth of their connection and the pain left in the wake of his passing.

Airport staff on patrol discovered Andi's body and immediately alerted authorities. The Commander of the Military Resort (Danrem) 161 Wira Sakti Kupang, Brigadier General TNI Joao Xavier Barreto Nunes, confirmed the incident, attributing Andi's decision to romantic struggles linked to the dowry demand.

Source: Sinar Harian