Dutch Couple's Partying Habit in Jakarta Reveals Wealth from Bank Heist

One can become wealthy through hard work, but some individuals choose shortcuts via criminal acts to amass riches. Such was the case with a Dutch couple living in Jakarta during the 1910s, when it was known as Batavia. They lived luxuriously with money stolen from a bank, valued at the time equivalent to Rp87 billion. The Dutchman was named A.M. Sonneveld and his wife, renowned for their immense wealth. Almost every night, the couple frequented the city’s nightlife spots, particularly Societeit Harmoni in the city centre. There, they partied and indulged in expensive dishes without concern for the costs. Whenever Sonneveld splurged and lived extravagantly, no one grew suspicious. This was because everyone knew him as an exceedingly wealthy man. Upon arriving in Batavia, Sonneveld had served as an officer in the KNIL, or Royal Netherlands Indies Army. He undertook various assignments and earned awards from the Dutch Queen. After early retirement, he continued working at the largest private bank, Nederlandsch Indie Escompto Maatschappij. There, he headed the department handling customer funds, resulting in a substantial salary. Given this professional background, no one harboured any suspicion about the origins of Sonneveld’s wealth. That perception changed after many people read media reports in early September 1913. At the beginning of September, most newspapers in the Dutch East Indies reported on the illegal actions of a bank employee in Batavia. Upon full reading, it turned out the employee was A.M. Sonneveld. For instance, the daily Deli Courant (5 September 1913) reported that the 45-year-old man had been proven to have stolen customer funds amounting to 122,000 guilders. The proof came after the Escompto Bank conducted an internal investigation into suspicious transactions. From this, it was discovered that Sonneveld had engaged in foul play. In 1913, 122,000 guilders could purchase 73 kg of gold, as the price per gram was 1.67 guilders. Thus, converted to the present day, 73 kg of gold equates to Rp87 billion (1 gram of gold: Rp1.2 million). On the other hand, Sonneveld had already realised that his dirty tricks were being uncovered by the bank. Therefore, well before being declared a suspect, he and his wife had fled the city. The police then designated them as fugitives and disseminated their physical descriptions in numerous newspapers and places. The Sumatra Post report (6 September 1913) detailed Sonneveld’s physical features: brown-skinned, of Dutch descent, with a scar on his right cheek and knee, and aged 45. Fortunately, the dissemination of information brought a breakthrough in the couple’s flight. It was learned that they had gone to Bandung by train from Meester Cornelis (now Jatinegara). “Police detected that he hired a car from Meester Cornelis and went to a hotel in Bandung,” wrote the Deli Courant reporter. In Bandung, they did not stay put and continued their journey to Surabaya by train. The Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad daily (7 September 1913) reported that during the train journey, Sonneveld encountered a friend who inquired about his travel purpose. To his friend, the Batavia fugitive claimed he was heading to Hong Kong upon reaching Surabaya. His excuse was that the trip was for a study visit to the Escompto Bank branch in Hong Kong. However, his friend knew it was mere fabrication. Consequently, he reported the story to the police. As a result, the Dutch East Indies police hurriedly contacted Hong Kong police. Ultimately, Sonneveld and his wife’s journey came to an end. Not long after setting foot in Hong Kong, they were promptly arrested by police and extradited to the Dutch East Indies. Their bag containing the remnants of the stolen money was also seized. Upon arrival in Indonesia, they were immediately tried. In court, Sonneveld admitted to stealing customer funds to satisfy his desire for a luxurious life. His wife also knew of her husband’s actions and attempted to cover them up. Sonneveld was sentenced to five years in prison. Meanwhile, his wife had to stay in a free hotel for three months. The Sonneveld case was then recorded in history as the largest theft in the 1910s. In the present era, robbery tactics are increasingly varied. Malicious individuals can more easily breach bank accounts through online platforms. Therefore, the public must remain vigilant to avoid becoming victims.