Motive behind social media influencer Woodyrman's fatal assault on Bruneian national in Blok M allegedly sparked by anger

Police have revealed the motive behind Bruneian social media influencer Muhammad Irman Ali, known as Woodyrman, assaulting another Bruneian national, MHF (30), in Blok M, South Jakarta, in the early hours of Wednesday, 6 May 2026.

Polda Metro Jaya’s Public Relations Chief, Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto, stated that Woodyrman’s assault was allegedly triggered by anger. ‘Based on preliminary investigations, the motive for the assault appears to have been the suspect’s heightened emotions,’ Budi said in a written statement on Thursday, 28 May 2026.

Prior to the assault, the victim had intended to defend a friend. However, he became the target of Woodyrman’s rage. ‘The incident began with a misunderstanding between the suspect and a witness. The victim then attempted to defend the witness, leading to a verbal altercation between the two,’ Budi explained.

Before the Blok M incident, the victim had sent a voice message to the suspect challenging him to a fight. They later met at Blok M, where the situation escalated into a confrontational exchange.

‘According to further investigation, the suspect was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time. In a state of anger, he struck the victim once on the head with his right hand, which was holding a paper bag containing a drink bottle,’ Budi said.

‘The blow caused the victim to fall at the scene, receive medical treatment, and subsequently be declared dead,’ Budi added.

The incident was captured by CCTV footage from a minimarket opposite the hotel where the victim was staying. An Instagram account @viraljakartaselatan shared a video showing the victim sitting on a small chair. The suspect, dressed in black, approached him, with a woman intervening to mediate. The victim appeared to shout while pointing at the suspect, before the suspect struck him on the head with something, causing him to fall motionless.

Polda Metro Jaya’s Public Relations Chief, Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto, confirmed the victim was struck with a paper bag containing a glass bottle. ‘The suspect allegedly hit the victim once on the head with a paper bag containing a glass bottle, causing him to fall,’ Budi told Kompas.com via text message on Tuesday.

Police have yet to locate the paper bag, as the incident was reported approximately two weeks after it occurred. However, Irman was arrested on Monday, 25 May 2026, in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta.