Revealed: Initial Involvement of TNI Members in State-Owned Bank Branch Head Case: Defendant Seeks Thugs

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The involvement of TNI members in the kidnapping and murder case of the Head of a State-Owned Bank Branch, Mohammad Ilham Pradipta, originated from defendant Dwi Hartono’s plan to shift funds from dormant or inactive accounts.

At that time, Dwi Hartono was looking for thugs or TNI members to act as facilitators or intermediaries to the bank branch leadership.

Dwi then contacted his friend, Yohanes Joko Pamuntas, to find him thugs or TNI members.

“When asked (by Dwi) if I knew any thugs, maybe first because I (worked) in parking, second maybe back in university days, if I knew any thugs, turns out my girlfriend was harassed during university, I thought something similar,” said Joko during the trial at the Military Court on Monday (27/4/2026).

At that time, Joko did not know Dwi’s purpose in seeking thugs.

Then, Joko remembered Serka Mochamad Nasir, who was his neighbour.

Dwi Hartono then asked him to introduce him to Nasir. Joko then contacted Nasir regarding the request.

“Uncle, a friend seems to have a problem, this is my boss. Then he (replied), ‘that’s your friend, how do you ask?’” said Joko, imitating his conversation with Nasir.

Meanwhile, witness Antonius Aditia Maharjuna revealed the reason for the involvement of TNI members in the kidnapping and murder case of Ilham.

This was done to convince the branch leadership to cooperate in shifting funds from dormant accounts.

“Automatically, Mr Dwi asked for help ‘Ton, how to do it, convince Mr Nasir (defendant I), that the victim shouldn’t be touched, shouldn’t even be scratched’ like that,” said Antonius during the trial.

“Because as far as I know, Mr Dwi said ‘let’s just find officials because it’s more convincing, more able to convince the branch leadership’. If civilian meets civilian, the language is harder to believe compared to meeting officials, sir,” he added.

Previously, in the prosecutor’s indictment at the Jakarta Military Court, it was revealed that the kidnapping accompanied by the murder of Ilham Pradipta began when Joko approached Nasir to find thugs.