Balikpapan Police Refute Viral Robbery Claims, Reveal Cases of Assault and Revenge

The Balikpapan City Police in East Kalimantan have firmly denied allegations of a street robbery that recently went viral on social media and unsettled residents of the ‘Oil City’. Based on an in-depth investigation, the widely discussed incident was not a robbery, but rather a series of assault and battery cases triggered by a revenge attack.

Balikpapan Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Jerrold H.Y. Kumontoy, explained that to date, his department has not received any official report regarding violent theft or robbery as narrated in the widespread posts. "The investigation concluded that the incident was not a robbery, but two distinct yet interconnected cases, namely a group assault and a subsequent battery triggered by revenge," Jerrold told the press on Wednesday (3/6/2026). He added that coordination has been carried out with the Mayor of Balikpapan, Rudi Mas’ud, to ensure the security situation in the area. Jerrold expressed regret that several social media accounts disseminated information prematurely without confirming with the authorities, thereby triggering mistaken public perception.

The police have named three suspects in the assault case that occurred on Mukmin Faisyal Street, South Balikpapan, on 15 May 2026. One of the perpetrators is known to be a juvenile in conflict with the law. The incident began when the perpetrators, under the influence of alcohol, caused a disturbance at the scene. They harassed road users and even threw objects at a box truck. When a motorcyclist with the initials HG passed by and ignored their orders to stop, one of the perpetrators swung a machete, striking the victim’s thigh. "The suspects’ motive was not robbery. They created a commotion under the influence of alcohol, which led to the assault," Jerrold clarified. The suspects are now charged under Article 262, paragraphs (2) and (3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of nine years in prison.

The investigation developed into a second case. HG, who was previously the victim of the assault, was instead named a suspect in a battery case. HG along with his associates (JG, JFP, and AF) allegedly carried out a revenge attack by visiting the house of a resident named Junaidi, 63, in search of the perpetrators of the first assault. During this action, intimidation and violence using a sharp weapon occurred. Police secured evidence including clothing, a brick, a small knife, and the results of the victim’s medical examination. The disclosure of these two cases serves as an official police clarification to quell the robbery rumours that had disturbed the residents of Balikpapan. The Balikpapan City Police are committed to following up on every public report professionally and transparently.