Illegal Parking Attendant Who Went Viral for Demanding Rp5,000 Tests Positive for Drugs
An illegal parking attendant with the initials MS, who was arrested after forcing a motorist to pay Rp5,000 at a minimarket in the Jembatan Besi area of Tambora, West Jakarta, has tested positive for drugs.
Tambora Police Chief AKP Wahyu Hidayat said this was discovered after the parking attendant underwent a urine test immediately following his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Unit.
“We also conducted a urine test on the individual, and he tested positive for amphetamine-type drugs (methamphetamine),” Wahyu said when confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.
The extortion incident began when the victim, Rendy Budiharto, parked his motorcycle in the parking area of Pasar Mitra Jembatan Lima to shop for cake-making supplies.
“After finishing shopping and about to leave the location, the victim was approached by a parking attendant who demanded a parking fee. The victim then gave Rp2,000,” Wahyu said.
However, the parking attendant reportedly refused the money. The man demanded a parking fee of Rp5,000.
“The victim then refused because, according to him, the usual motorcycle parking rate was Rp2,000,” Wahyu said.
The disagreement then sparked an argument between the victim and the parking attendant. During the incident, the victim claimed he received threats of being beaten.
Feeling aggrieved by the incident, the victim then uploaded the event to Instagram, where it went viral.
“The victim also contacted the police hotline 110 and was subsequently directed to file a complaint with Tambora Police,” Wahyu said.
Following up on the report, the Tambora Police Criminal Investigation Unit, led by Unit Head AKP Sudrajat Jumantara together with Sub-unit Head Ipda Priyo Purnomo and the operational team, immediately conducted a sweep around the scene.
“As a result, officers found the man suspected of being involved in the incident still in the Pasar Mitra parking area,” he said.
Officers then detained the man with the initials MS for examination and clarification regarding the reported incident.
“We immediately followed up on the information and public report. After conducting a sweep around the location, officers found the individual still in the parking area and he was immediately detained for examination,” Sudrajat said.
In handling the case, police secured evidence in the form of a video recording that went viral on Instagram.
Currently, the Tambora Police Criminal Investigation Unit is still conducting examinations and further investigation to fully uncover the alleged criminal act as referred to in Article 482 of the Criminal Code.
Tambora Police affirmed its commitment to responding to every public report and piece of information, including information circulating through social media, as part of efforts to provide a sense of security and maintain public order in the West Jakarta area.
“We urge the public not to hesitate to report if they experience or become aware of any suspected criminal acts. Every report will be followed up in accordance with applicable procedures and legal provisions,” he concluded.