Police arrest gang using false accusations in West Jakarta

Police have apprehended three members of a gang of robbers using false accusations and assault who operated in the Jalan Daan Mogot area of Cengkareng, West Jakarta. AKP Parman Gultom, the Reskrim Unit Head of Cengkareng Police Station, said the suspects operated in groups by tailing victims on the road before making accusations or intimidation. Gultom stated that the suspects first cornered the victims’ vehicles and made allegations as if the victims had committed violence against their family. “The sequence was that they followed the victim from behind. After cornering the motorcycle, they said, ‘Did you assault my sister earlier?’ Then the victim was pulled over,” Gultom told journalists in Jakarta on Friday. After the victim stopped, the suspects began intimidating them en masse. The victim was surrounded, causing psychological pressure before being assaulted and having their belongings stolen. “In slang terms, it’s called ‘diburung-burungin’. They surround the victim, take the motorcycle, and also steal the phone while assaulting them,” Gultom said. “The victim was punched, kicked, and pushed until they fell. They did not use sharp weapons, but if there were stones or objects at the scene, they were used to assault the victim,” he explained. Gultom added that the operation was carried out by groups of three to four suspects. The modus operandi instilled fear in victims, rendering them unable to resist due to psychological pressure. The three suspects were arrested on 23 and 24 May 2026 at their residences in the Pakuwon area of Bekasi. Police suspect the group has committed multiple offences. Investigators are currently expanding the probe to uncover other possible crime scenes and the suspects’ involvement in similar cases. “There will be more developments in the future. The modus operandi is the same: ‘diburung-burungin’”, Gultom said. Preliminary investigations revealed that proceeds from selling stolen motorcycles were used for entertainment and online gambling. “We traced the money to their lavish spending and online gambling,” he added. Police have urged the public to seek crowded areas or the nearest police station if subjected to similar intimidation on the road. The suspects are currently undergoing intensive questioning at Cengkareng Police Station for further legal proceedings. They face multiple charges under Sections 479 and 262 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) for violent theft.