Elderly Woman Attacked in West Jakarta; Suspect Pretended to Need Laundry, It Was a Revenge Plot
Jakarta — The good intentions of an elderly woman named Christine Wijaya (76) to continue serving customers at the close of her business ended in disaster. She became a victim of brutal assault by a man identified by the initials JA (30) who pretended to want to wash clothes. The ill-fated incident occurred at the victim’s laundry business on Jalan Kebon Jeruk IX, Kelurahan Maphar, Tamansari District, West Jakarta, on Tuesday evening, 19 May 2026.
As a result of the assault, Christine suffered heavy bleeding and had to be taken to the Emergency Department of RSUD Tamansari for medical treatment including six stitches on the left side of her head. Meanwhile, her face and eyes were still covered in bruises, making it difficult for her to see.
Suddenly, JA arrived carrying a small amount of clothing and asked that his laundry be accepted even though it was nearly closing time. Even though the operating hours were almost over, Christine still served customers and invited the man inside.
“When I was closing the door, that man arrived. He said he wanted to do laundry, I said we could, but it was nearly closed — what about the laundry tomorrow? He said, ‘It’s okay, tomorrow’,” Christine said when speaking to Kompas.com at the scene on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
“However, while she was weighing the clothes, JA suddenly attacked her face and head repeatedly.”Yes, how could a person washing with me I wouldn’t want, I invited him inside. While I was weighing here, he immediately punched me. From here he stood up, punched me again. I hadn’t even asked him anything, and he kept punching,” Christine said.
Her head was also struck repeatedly with a blunt object as she fell. Christine did not get to see what object was used because the attack happened so quickly.
“At that time, the police asked me what he hit me with; I didn’t know what he used to punch me with. I just shouted ‘Help, help!’ loudly so that people could hear,” she explained.