Australian social worker commits suicide in hotel

Frustrated over his inability to recoup losses for investments he had made in the share market in his country, an Australian social worker committed suicide at a hotel here by consuming poison, police said.

Three suicide notes, addressed to Puducherry police, the hotel General Manager and the Australian Embassy were found in his room, they said.

Superintendent of Police Ramraj said they opened the door with an alternate key yesterday to gain entry after the hotel management informed them there was no response to repeated knocks on his door and found Dickens Maxwell Iaan lying dead on the bed. The man had consumed poison, he said

He said the Australian Embassy had been informed and that Maxwell's brother would arrive here tomorrow to claim the body.