Three Printing Employees in Central Jakarta Held Captive for 21 Days, Denied Food

Police have disclosed the circumstances surrounding the confinement of three printing company employees in the Senen area of Central Jakarta. The victims, identified as Adit Saputra, M Rafly Jaelani, and Tegar Saputra, were held captive for 21 days.

“The victims were held captive for approximately 21 days,” said the Director of General Criminal Investigation at Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Iman Imannudin, to reporters at the Central Jakarta Metro Police on Monday (29/6/2026).

The Central Jakarta Metro Police are currently providing assistance to the victims. The police force is committed to overseeing the victims’ recovery. “The victims were held captive for approximately 21 days before being rescued by a team from the Central Jakarta Police, hence the need for health recovery assistance, both physical and psychological,” he stated.

The Head of Criminal Investigation at the Central Jakarta Metro Police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Roby Heri Saputra, added that during their captivity, the victims were forbidden from being given food. This order was issued by a female suspect, CML, who is the sister of the printing company’s owner. “Saudari CML’s role was as a caretaker or maintenance person who also forbade the office boy from approaching and giving food to the victims,” he said.

Seven individuals have now been named as suspects and detained, including MML, the owner of the printing company who is also the mastermind behind the confinement. They are charged under Article 482 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of nine years’ imprisonment, and/or Article 446 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment, and/or Article 471 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment.

Police also revealed the motive behind the confinement. The main perpetrator, MML, accused the victims of stealing printing plates worth Rp 230 million. “According to the alibi of the perpetrators, these iron plates were worth approximately Rp 230 million. The owner suspected that these three employees were the ones who took or caused the loss of the iron plates,” said Central Jakarta Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Reynold EP Hutagalung.

MML then ordered the three to be held captive. The victims were asked for compensation of Rp 50 million each. “So they were confined and asked for compensation, with each being asked for approximately 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 captive, citing that not all of them had paid the compensation. “Even after a report was made via the 110 call centre to the Central Jakarta Police, he was not released, because the others had not yet paid compensation, and one of the others had only paid Rp 5 million,” he clarified.