Robbers Use Gay Dating App 'Hornet' to Lure Victims with 'Fun' Code

Police have arrested three robbers who targeted victims through the same-sex dating application ‘Hornet’ in Depok City, West Java. The main perpetrator, identified as AR (30), admitted to using a special code to invite victims for sexual intercourse as a means of deception. AR initially selected potential victims at random. ‘Just randomly. As long as they are female, or male but female, we just invite them out,’ AR told reporters during a press conference at the Depok Metro Police on Monday. He admitted to using the code ‘Fun’ when chatting with victims to signal sexual intercourse. ‘Fun, the code for sexual intercourse, fun for having a good time. Yes, the victims were willing to be invited,’ he explained. He stated the code was used to deceive the victims. If the victim accepted the invitation, the perpetrator would further deceive them by suggesting they go to an apartment. ‘It never got to sexual intercourse. I am straight, it was just bait. When we met, I would say, “Let’s go to my apartment.” But it was not to an apartment,’ he clarified. Afterwards, the perpetrator would take the victim to a cemetery. There, the perpetrator and his two accomplices, identified as KA (24) and S (42), would follow and carry out the robbery. ‘Then, my other friends who were following would act like they were catching a couple dating. “What are you two doing here in the cemetery, are you gay?” After that, they would be questioned. If the victim denied it, their hands would be tied with duct tape. We have done this five times,’ he revealed. Head of the Depok Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKBP Made Gede Oka Utama, stated that the suspects KA and S would approach from behind to rob and drag the victim. After the victim’s belongings were seized, the victim was left alone and bound. ‘There, after approaching the crime scene, the other perpetrators from behind would rob and drag the victim by knocking them down, seizing their belongings. They then assaulted the victim, tied the victim with rope and duct tape, and abandoned the victim after draining their possessions,’ said AKBP Made. ‘We can convey that the behaviour of the perpetrators was so sadistic, leaving the victim alone at the crime scene, which on average was in a cemetery area,’ he added. The victim then sought help from local residents before eventually reporting the incident to the Sukmajaya Police. The investigation team then conducted further inquiries to identify the perpetrators. ‘So yesterday, in the early hours of Sunday, we managed to arrest the three perpetrators. During the development of the case, the perpetrators resisted our team, so we took firm, measured action against them,’ he stated. Police recorded that the perpetrators had carried out their actions three times: in Cilodong on Monday (20/7), subsequently in the Tapos District on Friday (24/7), and finally in Jatimulya on Saturday (24/7). For their actions, the three perpetrators are charged under Article 479 of the Criminal Code concerning violent theft, which carries a maximum penalty of nine years in prison.