Assailant who assaulted Jaklingko passenger has a history of mental illness

Jakarta — Police have identified the suspect as NS, 30, who assaulted a Jaklingko passenger on route 49 Lebak Bulus–Cipulir in the Pesanggrahan district, South Jakarta, and who has a history of mental illness.

‘As of now, it has not yet been a full year; the person had only recently been released from a psychiatric hospital because of a history of mental or psychological disturbance,’ said Pesanggrahan Police Chief (Comr) Seala Syah Alam at a press conference at the Pesanggrahan Police Station, Jakarta, on Saturday.

Seala said the police are working with the Social Service and the Mental Hospital (RSJ) to address the perpetrator’s mental health. Therefore, the police are awaiting further results in accordance with the applicable rules.

‘What the outcome will be, we will certainly handle this case in accordance with the rules or procedures for the perpetrator,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the victim, initialed B, 27, said he did not expect the perpetrator to be someone with a mental disorder.

‘If he is ODGJ, no; perhaps he was just stressed,’ he said.

Then, the suspect’s father, initial S, 61, added that they apologise for their son’s condition, which he said requires special handling. Moreover, the suspect’s husband is known to keep his distance from his wife, with no clarification up to now.

‘Depression came after he started a family. Before he started a family, he wasn’t like this,’ he said.

The incident occurred on Thursday (21 May) at about 10:20 WIB inside a Jaklingko service as it passed beneath the Ulujami Toll underpass in Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta.

When the vehicle passed beneath the Pasar Bintaro Toll, the suspect boarded and sat on the back bench on the right-hand side. The suspect then asked another passenger to help tap the payment card, but the machine briefly malfunctioned.

After the card was successfully used, the victim received the card from another passenger to hand back to the suspect. But the suspect pulled the card from the victim’s hand roughly.

Shortly thereafter, as the victim alighted, the suspect suddenly slapped the victim’s left cheek.

The victim questioned the act, but the suspect slapped him twice more and kicked him once. The two then exchanged words until the driver stopped the vehicle and all passengers were asked to alight.

Finally, the victim filed a report and police arrested the suspect in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta on Friday (22 May).