Debt-collector Sibah halts funeral in Sampang over Rp 215 million debt

An act by a woman described online as a debt-collector for the deceased disrupted the funeral procession in Ragung village, Pangalengan district, Sampang Regency, East Java, and drew wide attention on social media. The woman, Sibah, 50, is identified as a resident of Dusun Plasah, Pangarengan village, Pangarengan district, Sampang. According to detikJatim, the incident occurred as mourners were preparing to send off the coffin of a woman identified as SM, 46. Video circulating online shows the mood at the funeral turning from mourning to tense as Sibah approached the imam delivering the eulogy and spoke in Madurese, asking permission to interject. ‘Kiaeh tak langkong, abdhinah bedeh se epadepak aginah, tak langkong’ (Imam, I apologise, there’s something I wish to say, sorry). Sibah said she acted because she claimed SM’s debt was substantial. She said SM owed gold and cash that, in total, amounted to hundreds of millions of rupiah. ‘Panikah almarhum andik otang, sagemik gram emas biasah, pesse lema belles juta, perkiraan duratos lema beles jutah otangah’ translates to: ‘The deceased owed, 25 grams of gold, Rp 15 million in cash, estimated debt about Rp 215 million’. She admitted she was speaking during the funeral procession because she claimed the family had not cooperated. ‘Tak langkong jek koburagi montak tage bedeh nyandek nakpotonah maupun suaminah maupun tretannah tak langkong jek koburagi manggu petong Toron’ (Sorry, do not bury until someone responsible—her child, her husband, or relatives—appears; do not bury even if seven generations pass), she declared. The atmosphere grew tense because the husband of the deceased said he did not know the origins of his wife’s debts, and Sibah did not bring written proof of the debt. ‘Suami almarhum tidak mengetahui asal usul utang yang dilakukan oleh istrinya,’ said Eko. Nevertheless, the family eventually stated they would take responsibility for the debt, and the deceased was buried safely and smoothly. After an agreement was reached, the burial proceeded.