Driver of Toyota Calya Claims Ignorance of Weapons and Fake Registration Plates in Wrong-Way Incident on Gunung Sahari

Jakarta — Hafiz Mahendra, the driver of a Toyota Calya that travelled the wrong way on Jalan Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta on Wednesday (25 February 2026), has claimed he was unaware of the presence of sharp weapons and fake registration plates inside his vehicle.

When confronted further, the driver stated that the weapons and fake plates belonged to his older brother.

The black Toyota Calya, which travelled against traffic and was pursued by a crowd on Jalan Gunung Sahari in the Sawah Besar district of Central Jakarta, went viral on Wednesday.

According to the Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Reynold Hutagalung, the vehicle was being driven by a man named Hafiz Mahendra from Sidoarjo Regency in East Java.

The car carried several passengers, including a toddler.

The incident began when the driver was suspected of using a fake registration plate. He was stopped by police officers at approximately 5.00 p.m. local time.

However, fearing a fine, the driver fled by driving against traffic and collided with several vehicles in the process.

When stopped, police discovered several fake plates as well as sharp weapons and toy firearms.

The vehicle contained four registration plates in total, with only one being a genuine plate from Jakarta. The other three plates, including the one being used at the time numbered D 1640 AHB, were suspected to be counterfeit.