Cahaya Trans Bus Driver's Licence Confirmed Fake, Two Forgers Also Named as Suspects
Investigators from Semarang Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the B1 Public driving licence held by Cahaya Trans bus driver Gilang Ihsan Faruq (22) is a forgery. Gilang and two other individuals have now been named as suspects in connection with the fake licence.
Semarang Metropolitan Police Chief Commissioner M Syahduddi stated that the licence in Gilang's possession was recorded as having been issued by the Traffic Unit of Padang District Police. However, upon verification, the licence under Gilang's name was found not to be registered in the Padang District Police licensing system.
"The results of the Forensic Laboratory examination show that the B1 Public driving licence in the name of GIF is non-identical, meaning it is a product of a different printing process," said M Syahduddi during a live broadcast on the Semarang Metropolitan Police YouTube channel on Wednesday (18 February 2026).
Based on these findings, on 1 February 2026 investigators named Gilang Ihsan Faruq as a suspect under Article 392(2), which states that "any person who uses a document whose contents are untrue or falsified" is liable to prosecution.
Investigators developing the case further revealed that two other individuals were involved as the forgers: Herry Soekirman (HS) and Mustafa Kamal (MK). Both were named as suspects on 15 February 2026 under Article 392(1), which addresses "any person who commits forgery of documents against authentic records."
"Regarding the case of possession of a driving licence that does not comply with regulations, Semarang Metropolitan Police investigators have named three suspects. The first is GIF, who was also the driver of the bus involved in the accident that killed 16 people. The second is HS, whose role was to create and edit the licence held by suspect GIF. The third is MK, who assisted suspect HS and profited from the illegal licence-making process," he said.
In this case, police also seized a number of items of evidence, including: the forged B1 Public driving licence in Gilang Ihsan Faruq's name; a B1 Public driving licence in Mustafa Kamal's name; an A Public driving licence in Herry Soekirman's name; three mobile phones of various brands; a desktop computer unit comprising an LG CPU, 21-inch LG monitor, Epson L120 printer, keyboard, and mouse.
As previously reported, investigators from Semarang Metropolitan Police have also named Ahmad Warsito (AW), the President Director of PT Cahaya Wisata Transportasi, as a suspect in the Cahaya Trans bus accident that killed 16 people on the Krapyak Toll Road in Central Java. Suspect AW is accused of failing to carry out his supervisory function over the operations of PT Cahaya Wisata Transportasi.
Furthermore, suspect AW was aware that the bus did not hold a route permit and was operating without oversight, yet still authorised its operation despite staff and the company's head of operations having reported that the bus lacked both a route permit and an inspection card.
Police also urged transport owners, operators, and route permit holders to guarantee the safety of passengers using their services, as a significant increase in public transport usage is expected in the coming weeks during the Eid al-Fitr homecoming period.
Police expressed their hope that traffic accidents, particularly those resulting in mass fatalities among passengers, would not be repeated.
"We remind all public transport owners and operators to fully comply with regulations, standard operating procedures, and applicable laws. What we have conveyed today is evidence of our commitment to delivering a sense of justice to all parties in connection with the accident that occurred some time ago," he said.
Semarang Metropolitan Police Chief Commissioner M Syahduddi stated that the licence in Gilang's possession was recorded as having been issued by the Traffic Unit of Padang District Police. However, upon verification, the licence under Gilang's name was found not to be registered in the Padang District Police licensing system.
"The results of the Forensic Laboratory examination show that the B1 Public driving licence in the name of GIF is non-identical, meaning it is a product of a different printing process," said M Syahduddi during a live broadcast on the Semarang Metropolitan Police YouTube channel on Wednesday (18 February 2026).
Based on these findings, on 1 February 2026 investigators named Gilang Ihsan Faruq as a suspect under Article 392(2), which states that "any person who uses a document whose contents are untrue or falsified" is liable to prosecution.
Investigators developing the case further revealed that two other individuals were involved as the forgers: Herry Soekirman (HS) and Mustafa Kamal (MK). Both were named as suspects on 15 February 2026 under Article 392(1), which addresses "any person who commits forgery of documents against authentic records."
"Regarding the case of possession of a driving licence that does not comply with regulations, Semarang Metropolitan Police investigators have named three suspects. The first is GIF, who was also the driver of the bus involved in the accident that killed 16 people. The second is HS, whose role was to create and edit the licence held by suspect GIF. The third is MK, who assisted suspect HS and profited from the illegal licence-making process," he said.
In this case, police also seized a number of items of evidence, including: the forged B1 Public driving licence in Gilang Ihsan Faruq's name; a B1 Public driving licence in Mustafa Kamal's name; an A Public driving licence in Herry Soekirman's name; three mobile phones of various brands; a desktop computer unit comprising an LG CPU, 21-inch LG monitor, Epson L120 printer, keyboard, and mouse.
As previously reported, investigators from Semarang Metropolitan Police have also named Ahmad Warsito (AW), the President Director of PT Cahaya Wisata Transportasi, as a suspect in the Cahaya Trans bus accident that killed 16 people on the Krapyak Toll Road in Central Java. Suspect AW is accused of failing to carry out his supervisory function over the operations of PT Cahaya Wisata Transportasi.
Furthermore, suspect AW was aware that the bus did not hold a route permit and was operating without oversight, yet still authorised its operation despite staff and the company's head of operations having reported that the bus lacked both a route permit and an inspection card.
Police also urged transport owners, operators, and route permit holders to guarantee the safety of passengers using their services, as a significant increase in public transport usage is expected in the coming weeks during the Eid al-Fitr homecoming period.
Police expressed their hope that traffic accidents, particularly those resulting in mass fatalities among passengers, would not be repeated.
"We remind all public transport owners and operators to fully comply with regulations, standard operating procedures, and applicable laws. What we have conveyed today is evidence of our commitment to delivering a sense of justice to all parties in connection with the accident that occurred some time ago," he said.