Car Rental Embezzlement Cases Escalate, Police Role Questioned

JAKARTA — Behind the promising profits, car rental businesses carry substantial risk. High-value vehicles are easily transferred and become targets for embezzlement cases.

A fatal car embezzlement case occurred in Sumbersoko Village, Sukolilo District, Pati Regency, Central Java on 6 June 2024. A Jakarta-based rental car boss initialised BH (52) attempted to recover his vehicle that had been taken since November 2023 by tracking it via GPS.

Upon learning his car was in Pati, BH and three companions proceeded to the location. Upon arrival, BH attempted to retrieve the vehicle using a spare key without informing local residents. Consequently, residents shouted “thief” and a mob attacked them, resulting in vehicle incineration. The tragic incident killed BH whilst his three companions sustained serious injuries.

A similar case occurred in early 2025. Ilyas Abdurrahman (48), owner of Makmur Jaya rental car company, was shot dead by a vehicle embezzler at the Km 45 Rest Area on the Tangerang–Merak Toll Road on Thursday, 2 January 2025.

Besides killing Ilyas, the incident also injured his employee Ramli Abu Bakar (60). Both were shot whilst tracking the rental vehicle that had been taken by the perpetrator.

Before the shooting incident, Ilyas and his colleagues reported the matter to Cinangka Police Station and requested police assistance in apprehending the suspect. However, police declined despite knowing the suspect possessed a firearm. Their reasoning was that the victim had not filed an official police report receipt and they assumed the parties were leasing representatives attempting to repossess the vehicle.

It was later revealed that the embezzler and shooter were three Indonesian Navy personnel.

Wahyu recounted that his rental car embezzlement began on 10 December 2025 when someone initialised SA rented a black 2023 Toyota Innova for one month. “Subsequently, in January 2026, he reportedly continued extending the rental period,” said Wahyu during an interview with Kompas.com in North Jakarta on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

Mid-January 2026, SA no longer contacted Wahyu to extend his car rental. Wahyu attempted to contact and locate the suspected perpetrator but received no response. He subsequently reported the matter to North Jakarta Metropolitan Police on 20 February 2026. However, as of now, Wahyu has received no further information regarding his police report.