Police Apprehend Brutal Robbery Gang in Medan Public Minibus, Victims Severely Injured
The North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumut) have arrested two suspects armed with sharp weapons inside a ‘Morina 81’ public minibus in the Medan Deli area, Medan City. One of the suspects is a backup driver of the minibus who is alleged to have conspired to rob female passengers.
The case was uncovered by the Sub-directorate III of Jatanras, Ditreskrimum Polda Sumut, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Unit of Pelabuhan Belawan Police and the Medan Labuhan Police Unit.
North Sumatra Regional Police Public Relations Chief, Kombes Ferry Walintukan, stated that Regional Police Chief Irjen Pol Whisnu Hermawan gave special attention to the case as it caused significant public unrest. “Once this incident went viral, the Regional Police Chief immediately ordered the Criminal Investigation Directorate to move swiftly to uncover the perpetrators,” he said on Monday (18/5).
The two arrested suspects are identified as EN (alias Memes or Tattoo), 44, and SLS (alias Ringo), 36. Police stated that SLS acted as the executor, threatening passengers with a machete. SLS was also responsible for snatching the victims’ mobile phones, injuring them, and even pushing passengers out of the moving minibus.
EN allegedly assisted the crime by accelerating the minibus to ensure the victims’ screams could not be heard by nearby residents. “The main perpetrator pretended to take the driver hostage to appear uninvolved, whereas both had been conspiring from the start,” Ferry added.
As a result of the incident, victim Julia Pratiwi lost a mobile phone and sustained abrasions. Victim Erika Hasibuan lost two mobile phones and suffered three broken teeth and head injuries after being pushed from the vehicle. Another victim, Nova Yanti Porman Tampubolon, sustained machete wounds to her right arm and leg injuries after jumping from the vehicle to save herself.
Police first apprehended EN in Samosir Regency on 25 April 2026. Officers seized the victims’ mobile phones and the clothing worn during the crime from the suspect. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of SLS, who had fled to an oil palm plantation area in Tebo Regency, Jambi Province. Police captured the suspect after a pursuit to a plantation hut located approximately five hours from the main road.
According to Ferry, SLS attempted to resist and attack officers during the search for evidence in the Mabar area, forcing officers to neutralise the suspect by shooting him in the leg. Investigations revealed that EN is a recidivist involved in previous theft and drug cases, while SLS has been on the wanted list for vehicle theft in Medan since 2020. Police seized machetes, the suspects’ clothing, shoes seen in the viral video, and the victims’ mobile phones. Both suspects face charges under Article 365 of the Criminal Code regarding theft with violence.