Teenager Kills Sibling in Kelapa Gading, Allegedly Due to Jealousy

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Head of the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) at the North Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Kompol Ni Luh Sri Arsini, stated that jealousy over parental attention is suspected to be the motive behind the murder of an older sibling by his younger sibling in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

The victim, identified as MAR (21), was the eldest child, while the perpetrator is his younger brother, MAL (15). They both lived with their mother.

“It seems that he felt his older sibling received more attention from their parents,” said Sri when interviewed by Kompas.com at the North Jakarta Metropolitan Police on Wednesday (February 25, 2026).

Prior to the incident, the victim reportedly asked his mother for money to cover the costs of repairing a car after an accident.

Meanwhile, the perpetrator reportedly felt sorry for his family’s financial situation, which he considered to be difficult.

“According to the child, his mother was already struggling, so he didn’t want to keep asking her for money,” he said.

Sri stated that the conflict was a culmination of various family issues that had been ongoing for months.

“Perhaps he felt that his feelings were not being heard, and he kept it bottled up. It eventually reached a breaking point when the deceased asked his mother for money, which the perpetrator perceived as adding to their mother’s difficulties,” she added.

The incident is classified as a case of domestic violence because the perpetrator and victim lived in the same house.

“We are using Article 44, paragraph 3 of the Domestic Violence Act, which covers physical violence resulting in death. The penalty is 15 years,” Sri added.

The victim was the eldest child. The siblings lived with their mother.

The police have questioned at least seven witnesses, including local residents and the doctor who helped transport the victim to the hospital.

The legal process has now been escalated from investigation to investigation.

“We are planning to change the status of the perpetrator from a witness to a child in conflict with the law,” said Sri.

Because the perpetrator is a minor, the examination process is being conducted with the assistance of a guardian.

“The examination is also being assisted by the Child Protection Agency (Bapas), family members, and legal aid. Everything is in place,” she said.

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