Printing Business Owner Accused of Imprisoning Staff Over Missing Rp 230 Million Plates

Police have revealed the motive behind the false imprisonment of three employees who were shackled by the owner of a printing business in Senen, Central Jakarta. The three victims were accused of stealing printing plates worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.

“According to the perpetrators’ alibi, these metal plates were worth approximately Rp 230 million. The perpetrators, particularly the owner, suspected that these three employees were responsible for taking or causing the loss of the metal plates,” said Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Reynold EP Hutagalung, to reporters on Monday (29/6/2026).

Suspect MLM then ordered the three to be confined. The victims were each asked for Rp 50 million in compensation. “They were held captive to demand compensation, with each being asked for roughly Rp 50 million,” he explained.

Victim Adit had already paid Rp 50 million, while another victim, Rafly, had paid Rp 5 million. However, the perpetrators continued to hold the victims on the grounds that not everyone had paid the compensation money. “Even after a report was filed via the 110 call centre to the Central Jakarta Police, he was not allowed to go home because the others had not yet paid, and one of the others had only paid Rp 5 million,” he clarified.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with the 21-day confinement of the three printing company employees, identified as Adit Saputra, M Rafly Jaelani, and Tegar Saputra, in the Senen area of Central Jakarta. “Seven suspected perpetrators have been detained,” said Senior Commissioner Reynold EP Hutagalung during a press conference on Monday (29/6).

The suspects are men with the initials MML (40), AI (41), S (48), AYL (29), and NHJ (42), along with two women, CML (37) and II (36). The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the Central Jakarta Metro Police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Roby Heri Saputra, detailed the roles of the suspects. Two suspects, AI and S, were responsible for the confinement and for collecting the compensation money from the victims’ families. Both were arrested at the scene.

Police then expanded their investigation and arrested suspect MML. MML is the owner of the printing business and the mastermind behind the confinement. Police also arrested AYL, who threatened to break the victims’ legs if they did not pay the compensation. Another suspect, NHJ, was responsible for assembling the device used to shackle the victims.

Additionally, suspect CML, the sister of MML, was arrested for forbidding the office boy from giving food to the victims. The final suspect, I, acted as an administrator who received the transfer of money from the victims’ families.