Ex-TNI Soldier Arrested after Stealing Three Women’s Motorbikes

The Mataram City Police Resort (Polresta Mataram) arrested a man with the initials PAA (28). The ex-TNI soldier was seized after reportedly abducting and selling motorcycles belonging to a number of women in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Polresta Mataram, AKP I Made Dharma Yulia Putra, disclosed that PAA was captured in West Lombok on Thursday (21/5). To date, three victims have reported their motorcycles missing, having been taken away by PAA.

“We secured the suspect in Suranadi, Narmada District, West Lombok,” Dharma said on Friday (22/5/2026).

The three cases of embezzlement occurred in April and May 2026. The first case saw PAA borrow the victim’s motorcycle on Jalan Udayana, Mataram, on 21 April. At the time, the suspect borrowed the motorcycle on the pretext of a brief errand.

“After the motorcycle was handed over, the perpetrator never returned it,” Dharma added.

The second incident occurred in Dasan Agung, Mataram, on 29 April. Initially, PAA befriended the victim via social media and met at Bundaran Gerung, West Lombok.

The victim asked for transport to a friend’s boarding house at Dasan Agung, Selaparang District, Mataram City, using the victim’s motorcycle. After arriving at the friend’s boarding house, PAA waited outside with the victim’s motorcycle.

“When the victim returned, the perpetrator and the victim’s motorcycle had vanished,” Dharma stated.

The third case occurred in Cakranegara, Mataram City, on 15 May. PAA borrowed the victim’s motorcycle, claiming he needed to complete a task for his superior. The victim allowed him to borrow the motorcycle.

“However, since it was borrowed, the vehicle has never been returned,” Dharma said.

Dharma explained that PAA carried out his actions using a similar modus operandi. According to him, the former TNI member pretended to borrow the motorcycle from the owner, after which the vehicle was pledged or sold without the owner’s knowledge.

“The modus operandi was to borrow the motorcycle from the victims, then the motorcycle was not returned because it had already been pledged or sold by the perpetrator,” Dharma said.

For his actions, PAA is charged under Article 486 of Law Number 1 Year 2023 concerning the crime of embezzlement. Dharma emphasised that the police are continuing to investigate and develop the case.