Police Name Reckless Driver in Central Jakarta as Suspect
Police have apprehended a man, identified by the initials HM (24), the driver of a black Toyota Calya who was driving recklessly against traffic and collided with several vehicles in the Gunung Sahari area, Central Jakarta. The perpetrator has now been named as a suspect.
“He is now a suspect,” said the Head of the Central Jakarta Metro Police, Commissioner Reynold EP Hutagalung, when contacted on Thursday (26/2/2026).
Meanwhile, the Head of Traffic at the Jakarta Metro Police, Commissioner Komaruddin, said that the suspect is being charged under Article 311 of Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation.
“Under Article 311, paragraphs (1), (2), and (3),” said Komaruddin separately.
The text of Article 311:
Anyone who intentionally drives a Motor Vehicle in a manner or condition that endangers life or property shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 1 (one) year or a maximum fine of IDR 3,000,000.00 (three million rupiah).
In the event that the act as referred to in paragraph (1) results in a Traffic Accident with damage to Vehicles and/or property as referred to in Article 229 paragraph (2), the perpetrator shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 2 (two) years or a maximum fine of IDR 4,000,000.00 (four million rupiah).
In the event that the act as referred to in paragraph (1) results in a Traffic Accident with minor injuries and damage to Vehicles and/or property as referred to in Article 229 paragraph (3), the perpetrator shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 4 (four) years or a maximum fine of IDR 8,000,000.00 (eight million rupiah).
Brief Chronology
The incident occurred on Jalan Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (23/2) afternoon. The vehicle was initially spotted by officers driving recklessly in the middle of Jakarta’s afternoon traffic.
“The officers then asked him to pull over, but he ignored them, and the officers followed him as he turned onto Gunung Sahari IV, so he made a U-turn onto Gunung Sahari IV,” explained the Head of Traffic at the Jakarta Metro Police, Commissioner Komaruddin.
Instead of slowing down, HM accelerated his car. The car sped along the streets and was eventually pursued by officers.
“There, on the small road, his high speed was captured on the dashcam of the patrol car. From there, he turned left towards Bungur, and the fatal incident occurred when he entered Gunung Sahari V, which is a one-way street. Vehicles coming from Pasar Baru to Bungur were all going in one direction. He entered there, and many vehicles almost became victims because there were many motorcycles, and he was still driving at high speed,” he said.
At the Pasar Baru intersection, HM entered Jalan Budi Utomo by driving against traffic in the right lane. Officers pursued the perpetrator, who was driving recklessly and at high speed.
“Then the officers stopped at the intersection, in the middle of the road, made a U-turn, and went back to the intersection. Then, at the intersection, he turned left, which was being guarded by officers. He almost hit one of our officers, then turned towards Ancol, but he still didn’t want to stop,” he said.
From there, the perpetrator continued to drive towards Ancol and was pursued by officers. However, not far from there, the perpetrator encountered traffic congestion and eventually drove against traffic again, colliding with several vehicles.
“The officers continued to follow him. When he arrived near Ancol at the Pintu Besi traffic light, which was red, there was a queue of vehicles. He was probably blocked by the queue, but he made a U-turn back towards Pasar Baru, on the same lane, not changing lanes. That’s when the incident occurred, as recorded on camera,” he concluded.