Viral Thug Extorts Porridge Vendor in Central Jakarta, Demands Rp 300,000 Security Fee

A cart porridge seller in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, was extorted by thugs for hundreds of thousands of rupiah. The perpetrators also smashed the victim’s porridge bowls because his demands were not met.

The extortion incident went viral on social media on Friday (10/4), showing the perpetrator taking a porridge bowl from the victim’s cart. The perpetrator then smashed it, scattering shards of the bowl everywhere.

Tanah Abang Metro Police Chief AKBP Dhimas Prasetyo confirmed the incident. The police moved to apprehend the three thugs.

“We successfully brought in three suspects named TDT (26), a resident of Kampung Bali, DA (36), a resident of Kampung Bali, and OP (36), a resident of Kampung Bali,” Dhimas told reporters on Friday (10/4/2026).

Dhimas said the suspects extorted the victim for Rp 300,000 under the pretext of security money. The suspects also threatened to stab the victim if his demands were not met.

“The complainant was selling porridge at the scene when three suspects approached and demanded Rp 300,000 in security fees while threatening to stab him if not given,” he stated.

The suspects were also said to have carried out extortion at a coffee shop on Jalan Fachrudin, Central Jakarta. The police seized several pieces of evidence, including sharp weapons from the suspects.

“We brought the three suspects to the police station for questioning. We seized sharp weapons (sajam) as evidence,” he added.