Five Arrested After Rampage Over Debt at Gunungkidul Resident's Home

Five people have been detained by police after assaulting a young man in Gunungkidul. The incident began when the perpetrator became angry because the victim’s father had failed to pay mobile phone instalments.

The victim is a youth from Kapanewon Ponjong named Dika Rafiniyanto. The victim recounted that initially the perpetrator came to his house with two other people on Thursday afternoon (4/6). He claimed he was intimidated when meeting the perpetrators. The perpetrator momentarily left, but soon returned with four associates.

“One person shouted at me, then I reminded him not to do that in someone else’s house,” he told reporters at the Gunungkidul Police Station on Friday (5/6/2026). It was at that moment the assault occurred. He said he was suddenly punched in the face while greeting the group. “I was shaking hands with the other four people, then suddenly one of them, the one who had shouted, punched me in the face,” he said.

Simultaneously, Dika’s father arrived and immediately approached his son. Upon learning his son had been assaulted, Dika’s father was furious. He said his father was also kicked by the perpetrator. Additionally, his younger sibling was targeted by a thrown stone. “Then my father, not accepting it, came over, but he was kicked by the one who punched me. After that, he also threw a stone and it hit my sibling,” he stated.

Dika revealed that the perpetrator is actually a relative of his. As for the exact cause, Dika admitted he did not know much, given that the person involved in the problem was his father. “I don’t know exactly what the problem was that led to the assault, because the person involved is my uncle, but somehow I was the one who got hit,” he said.

Consequence of a Mobile Phone Loan

Meanwhile, the Gunungkidul Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head, AKP Tri Hartanto, stated that all five individuals had been secured. Currently, they are all still being questioned. “We immediately visited the crime scene and managed to secure five people last night,” he said. Police also seized the vehicle used by the perpetrators. Inside the car, officers found several sharp weapons. “During the vehicle search, we found several sharp weapons, including machetes and swords,” he said.

“What occurred at the scene was a violent assault. There are two victims and one perpetrator,” he stated. Regarding the motive for the assault, Tri said it stemmed from a debt problem, where the victim’s father had purchased a smartphone on credit and had fallen behind on payments. “The motive was collecting a long-standing debt. Essentially, the victim’s family member bought a mobile phone on credit from the perpetrator but had not paid for a long time, and there was a shortfall of Rp 350,000. Now, when sought, the debtor was never found and failed to pay,” he said.

Unable to control his emotions any longer, the perpetrator and his associates visited the victim’s home. Upon arrival, they met the debtor’s child. “During the visit to the house, they encountered the indebted family member, and an argument ensued there. Subsequently, the person concerned and the homeowner experienced the assault by the creditor,” he said. “We are still conducting an investigation and examining witnesses to determine whether a criminal offence occurred. We will then proceed with a case conference as well,” he added.