Five Facts About the Arrest of Ermanto Usman's Killer in Bekasi

Ermanto Usman (65) died after being murdered by an unknown assailant at his home in the Jatibening area of Bekasi City, West Java. Police have now arrested the perpetrator of this brutal killing.

The attack on the husband and wife in Jatibening was first reported on Monday (2 March). Metro Bekasi City Police Criminal Investigation Division Chief Kompol Andi Muhammad Iqbal stated that Ermanto’s wife, P (60), sustained injuries.

Both victims were first discovered by their daughter. She reported the incident occurred in the early morning hours before dawn prayers.

The daughter’s bedroom was located on the second floor of the house, whilst both victims were on the ground floor.

“So here’s what happened — there was a report. The person who reported it was a resident who initially informed the victim’s daughter, who then reported it to the police station. So the victim’s daughter discovered them first,” said Andi on Monday (2 March).

Normally there is a domestic helper living in the house, but at the time of the incident the helper was said to be away visiting home.

“How was this discovered? Because the victim’s daughter was usually woken by her mother to help prepare for pre-dawn meal preparations,” he explained.

Ermanto was known to be a retired employee of Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) who had an extensive track record as a port worker activist. Rieke Diah Pitaloka, Member of the Indonesian Parliament Commission XIII and Chair of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers (KRPI), stated that Ermanto was a key figure in efforts to expose alleged major corruption in the port sector years earlier.

“Mr Ermanto was formerly a JICT employee who was laid off in connection with the alleged corruption case involving RJ Lino. A special parliamentary committee was then formed — I happened to chair the Pelindo special committee — with state losses reaching trillions of rupiah, and if we use future value assessments, Indonesia’s losses might amount to tens of trillions of rupiah,” said Rieke at Ermanto’s home in Bekasi on Wednesday (4 March 2026).

During his lifetime, Ermanto was active in the Indonesian Port Workers Federation (FPPI) under the auspices of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers (KRPI). Rieke referred to Ermanto as a comrade-in-arms who consistently monitored the case of state losses at Pelindo reaching trillions of rupiah.

Although no longer working at JICT, Ermanto’s dedication to combating corruption remained unwavering. Rieke revealed that recently the deceased had been attempting to uncover old cases that were believed to have been deliberately discontinued or “shelved”.

“Until the end, I am confident Mr Ermanto continued fighting to reopen cases suspected of being shelved. Corruption cases in ports that are suspected of being shelved,” Rieke asserted.

About one month before his death, Ermanto was known to have appeared on a podcast to voice again concerns about global bond corruption and the Kalibaru project that caused state losses.

Ermanto’s passing left profound sorrow and major questions for his family. Rieke revealed that the deceased seemed to sense threats. Since February, he was said to have frequently apologised to his family.

“There was a lengthy message in which his father apologised in February, asking them to accept whatever might happen, indicating there were indications, I don’t know what the indications were, but clearly his father had instructed his children that if anything happened to him, contact Ms Rieke,” she said.

Kasubdit Jatanras of Metro Jaya Police AKBP Abdul Rahim confirmed the arrest of Ermanto Usman’s killer. However, he was reluctant to provide further details.

“Yes. Let’s wait a bit, we are still conducting further investigation,” said Rahim on Tuesday (10 March).

According to information received by detikcom, the arrest was made in the North Jakarta area. When pressed for further details, AKBP Rahim did not elaborate on the arrest.

Ermanto Usman, together with his wife, was attacked until covered in blood at his residence in the Bekasi area. Ermanto was struck with a crowbar until he died.

“From the initial interrogation results, the perpetrator struck the victim with a crowbar and discarded the crowbar in an empty lot in front of the victim’s house,” said Criminal Investigation Division Commander of Metro Jaya Police Kombes Iman Imanuddin to journalists on Tuesday (10 March).

The incident occurred on Monday (2 March). The perpetrator was arrested by Jatanras of Metro Jaya Police at 18:54 on Monday (9 March) in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

Police are still investigating the motive for the murder. The perpetrator is undergoing investigation at Metro Jaya Police headquarters.

Metro Bekasi City Police Criminal Investigation Division Chief Kompol Andi Muhammad Iqbal stated that several of the victim’s belongings were missing in the incident. Items missing from the victim included jewellery and car keys.

“The missing items, according to the victim’s daughter’s statement, included a gold bracelet on the victim’s wrist and two car keys. We are still documenting other missing items,” said Andi on Monday (2 March).

When discovered, Ermanto was already deceased. His wife sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical care at a hospital.

“The father (Ermanto) died at the scene. The mother is undergoing surgery and is in critical condition,” he explained.

Jatanras of Metro Jaya Police arrested the perpetrator of Ermanto Usman’s murder (65). Police are still investigating the motive for the murder.

“Regarding the motive, we are still investigating,” said Criminal Investigation Division Commander of Metro Jaya Police Kombes Iman Imanuddin to journalists on Tuesday (10 March).

The perpetrator, known as Sudirman alias Yuda, was arrested at 18:54 on Monday (9 March) in Cilincing, North Jakarta. The perpetrator killed Ermanto using a crowbar and discarded the evidence in front of the victim’s home.