Kidnapping of State-Owned Bank Branch Head Began with Request to "Intimidate"

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — The Jakarta Military Prosecutor has revealed that the kidnapping, which culminated in the murder of the branch head of a state-owned bank, Mohammad Ilham Pradipta, began with a request to intimidate someone in exchange for hundreds of millions of rupiah.

That request was made by a civilian to a TNI soldier who later became a defendant in the case.

Military Prosecutor Major Chk Wasinton Marpaung explained that the incident started when Witness 5, Yohanes Joko Pamuntas, approached Defendant 1, Mochamad Nasir, in Jonggol on 17 August 2025 around 16:00 WIB. At that time, Joko asked for help to intimidate someone.

Wasinton explained that Joko did not yet know who the target was. Nasir then asked to first meet with Witness 3, Dwi Hartono.

“Around 20:00 WIB, Witness 5 met with Witness 3 (Dwi Hartono), Witness 4 (Antonius Aditya Maharjuna), and Defendant 1 in Kota Wisata. In that meeting, Witness 3 planned to forcibly abduct the person’s leader on 19 August 2025. However, Defendant 1 said, ‘That’s impossible because the time is too tight,’” he stated.

In that meeting, Nasir then proposed the kidnapping technique by sedating the victim before taking them to a specific location.

“Then Defendant 1 proposed the technique: ‘Usually the victim is sedated and kidnapped to be taken to a safe house.’ Hearing Defendant 1’s explanation, because the plan was neat, Witness 3 agreed,” he explained.

Subsequently, Witness 3 sent the victim’s data to Witness 5 via WhatsApp, containing the name, photo, phone number, coordinates, and address of the victim. After that, they discussed the payment agreement.

Defendant 1 then contacted Defendant 2, Feri Herianto, and invited him to meet in the Kota Wisata Cibubur area. In that meeting, Witness 3 also took Witness 5 to an ATM to withdraw Rp 30 million, which was then handed over to Witness 5.

“Defendant 2 arrived and introduced himself to Defendant 1, Witness 5, and Witness 7 (David Setia Darmawan). At that time, while handing over a brown envelope, Witness 5 explained the plan to be carried out by Defendant 2 and the team,” he explained.

After that, Witness 5 stated that the victim’s location point had been sent by Witness 3 and that monitoring of the victim’s movements would be conducted.

Defendant 1, along with Witness 5, Witness 4, and Witness 7, then headed to a point near the BRI Cempaka Putih Auxiliary Branch Office to conduct observation.

“And they gathered at a coffee stall in the Cempaka Putih area. After that, Witness 5, Defendant 1, Witness 4, and Witness 7 searched for the BRI bank location, and at that time Witness 4 saw and photographed the victim and informed Witness 5,” he continued.