Four-year-old Child Who Scavenged in Cakung Returned to Mother in Sumedang

JAKARTA — F (4), a child who became viral for scavenging plastic bottles in Cakung, East Jakarta, has finally been returned to his parents.

East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Brigadier General Alfian Nurrizal explained that F had previously been living with his grandmother and younger sibling, identified as N, at a scavenging site in the Cakung area.

F’s father is currently undergoing legal proceedings at the Bekasi Police Station. Meanwhile, F’s mother has remarried and is now residing in Sumedang, West Java.

The police coordinated with F’s family and Jakarta’s Social Affairs Agency to facilitate the child’s return, including the signing of a handover report.

“East Jakarta Metro Police, together with Jakarta’s Social Affairs Agency, directly transported F and N to their mother’s home in Sumedang Regency using official police vehicles,” Nurrizal stated.

Alfian ensured that the return process was accompanied by monitoring through cross-jurisdictional coordination.

“To ensure both children receive support after returning to their family environment. The state must be present to guarantee children’s rights so they can grow properly,” Alfian said.

Previously, F and N frequently assisted their grandmother in collecting discarded bottles in Cakung.

A video showing a child scavenging for used bottles in Cakung District, East Jakarta, circulated on social media. The child approached the person recording the video, allegedly a truck driver.

In the video conversation, the child explained that he lived with his grandmother in the Cakung area after his father was imprisoned.

“Where is your father?” the recorder asked.

“My father is in prison,” the child answered.

“In prison? So you… you collect bottles?” the recorder asked.

“Yes. Because my mum married again,” the child replied.