Viral Video of Man Accused of Theft and Beaten by Mob in Bogor: Police Clarify Misunderstanding
A video showing a man narrated as a thief being captured and beaten by a crowd in Tanah Sareal, Bogor City, has gone viral on social media. Police say the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding.
In the viral video seen by detikcom on Wednesday (29 July 2026), a man is seen being held by several men and lifted onto a motorcycle. The man is beaten by those around him.
The video then shows residents gathering in front of the Tanahsareal Police Station. The narration suggests the perpetrator was brought from the scene and handed over to the police.
Chief of the Tanah Sareal Police, Police Commissioner Sonson Sudarsono, said the incident shown in the viral video took place in Kencana Urban Village, Tanah Sareal Subdistrict, on Tuesday evening (28 July). According to Sonson, a misunderstanding led to the man in the video being beaten by residents.
“So this man was just hanging out, was suspected of attempting to steal, then was secured by residents, but it turned out to be just a misunderstanding,” said Sonson when contacted for confirmation regarding the viral video.
Sonson said the man was socialising with two of his friends at the location. At the same time, residents noticed suspicious behaviour from the three men and alerted others.
“Initially, a woman saw this person, became suspicious and told the residents. This woman was frightened, suspecting the man wanted to steal because she saw him going back and forth in front of her food stall,” said Sonson.
The investigation revealed that the man in the video was gathering with two friends, commonly known as ‘nongkrong’. The motorcycle that was secured belonged to the man in the video and was not stolen goods.
“He was not lynched by the crowd, he was just beaten briefly. The neighbourhood association chairman came to the location for fear he would be lynched, and the man was handed over to us,” said Sonson.
“After we interrogated him, it turned out he said he was just hanging out, and there was indeed no theft. The motorcycle that was secured belonged to the man himself. They were indeed socialising there with a motorcycle and were then suspected. His family also came to the police station, and the matter has been clarified,” he added.