Police Arrest Two Repeat Offenders Allegedly Hypnotising Schoolchildren in Tambora

Police have arrested two men, identified as AS and AP, suspected of hypnotising schoolchildren in the Tambora area of West Jakarta. The suspects’ modus operandi involved deceiving and stealing valuable items from underage victims.

Sudrajat Djumantara, Head of Tambora Police Station’s Criminal Investigation Unit, explained that the suspects initially approached schoolchildren who were riding motorcycles and asked them questions to create confusion.

“The suspects would ask for directions or irrelevant details, causing the victims to become disoriented and comply with the perpetrators’ requests,” he said in Jakarta on Monday (25 May).

Modus Operandi

After the psychological tricks succeeded and the victims became lax, the suspects immediately stole the victims’ motorcycles and left them at the scene.

The latest incident occurred on Bandengan Street, Tambora Subdistrict, on Sunday (24 May) afternoon. Police swiftly responded to the report and apprehended both suspects in the Pekojan area of Tambora shortly after the incident.

“For the latest case on Bandengan Street, Tambora Subdistrict (Sunday, 24 May afternoon), the alleged hypnotism is still under investigation. We observed that the victims felt disoriented and followed the suspects’ instructions, almost as if hypnotised,” he said.

Repeat Offenders

Investigations revealed that both suspects are repeat offenders in similar cases. They were released from prison in 2022. Their targets are specifically schoolchildren.

“So far, all victims are minors or wearing school uniforms,” he said.

As a result of their actions, the suspects are now back behind bars. Police have charged them under Article 492 of the new Criminal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of four years. (Ant/P-2)