OT Group Management Apologises After Office Protested Over Alcohol Challenge
Masses from several community organisations (ormas) descended on the Orang Tua (OT) Building in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. The action was a protest against a challenge to memorise Quranic verses with the lure of a bottle of alcoholic drink as a prize.
Based on detikcom monitoring, the crowd began arriving at the OT Building at around 1.40pm Western Indonesia Time, led by one command vehicle. The masses appeared wearing attributes of several ormas such as the Islamic Brotherhood Front (FPI), Bang Japar, the Banten Extended Family Potential Development Agency (BPPKB Banten), and the Betawi Rempug Forum (FBR).
A mass representative from FPI, Syahrul Ahadi, explained that the demand was for an apology from OT Group. He said the anger of Muslims would subside after an apology from OT Group.
“In this case we ask the management, Orang Tua directly, to convey its apology. I hope it will be delivered directly on top of the command vehicle. With what hope? Precisely that what we do will ease the anger of Muslims who have been hurt,” said Syahrul, quoting detikcom, Friday (14/8).
The demonstration temporarily caused congestion on the Outer Ring Road heading towards the OT Building. Vehicles could only travel in one lane towards Kembangan when passing the OT Building during the action.
The masses were observed beginning to disperse at 4pm Western Indonesia Time. After the crowd dispersed, traffic on the Outer Ring Road in front of the OT Building then flowed smoothly in all lanes. Vehicles were observed moving at normal speed.
OT Group management, through Newport Director Handoko Sasongko, later met the crowd. He apologised for the alleged religious blasphemy that had occurred.
“Allow me to offer my deepest apologies, especially to Muslims, for the alleged religious blasphemy,” Handoko told the crowd.
Handoko stressed that the case of the challenge to memorise Quranic verses with the lure of a bottle of alcohol as a prize had entered the legal domain. He asked all parties to await the legal process.
“Please allow me, this has entered the legal domain which is currently in process. And let us together await the outcome of that process,” said Handoko.
Previously, Polda Metro Jaya had named four people as suspects in connection with the Quran memorisation challenge at The Sounds Project music concert in Ancol, North Jakarta. Two of the suspects, namely the MC and the challenge creator, were immediately detained.
“RES and AK were arrested on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, after the case handling was transferred from the North Jakarta Metro Police. Both have been detained for 20 days at the Polda Metro Jaya Detention Centre starting today,” said Polda Metro Jaya Director of General Criminal Investigation, Commissioner Iman Imanuddin, to reporters, Thursday (13/7).
Iman detailed that suspect RES served as the master of ceremonies or MC who allegedly interacted in front of the booth. Suspect M then appeared and recited Surah Ad-Dhuha through a loudspeaker.
There were also suspects I and AK who allegedly challenged visitors to recite Surah Al-Ikhlas and Ad-Dhuha in exchange for a bottle of alcoholic drink.
The suspects are charged under Article 300 and/or Article 301 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code as amended by Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments.