Disclaimer: This article is an editorial that highlights the problems in Indonesia today

PIKIRAN RAKYAT - Police are investigating a case of allegedly kidnapping and torturing a young man with the initials MRR (23) by a group of people in East Jakarta.

The case was handled by the Duren Sawit Police and then transferred to the East Jakarta Metro Police on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

However, the East Jakarta Metro Police admitted that they could not explain in detail because it is still under investigation.

"The case is currently still at the investigation stage. We are still exploring the case by examining witnesses," said the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of East Jakarta Metro Police AKBP Armunanto Hutahean, Tuesday 9 July 2024.

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Even so, he revealed that the cause of the confinement and maltreatment was allegedly a debt involving two parties, which are the victim and the perpetrator.

"The case started with a debt between the victim and the alleged suspect," said Armunanto Hutahean.

According to the victim's lawyer, Muhamad Normansyah the East Jakarta Metro Police investigators not only apply confinement-related violations. But also violation related to extortion, threatening, persecution, and others.

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In addition, he requested that the cafe where the victim was held captive and tortured in the Duren Sawit area be sealed so that evidence would not be lost.

"I am worried because until now, no evidence has been confiscated by the investigators. Evidence ranging from 3 kg gas holder, ashtrays, iron bins, cutting pliers, and others," said Muhamad Normansyah.

The torture and confinement of the victim began with a car business between the victim and one of the suspects, HRA. However, the fourth transaction was somewhat delayed because the victim used the money for urgent personal needs.

"This case started with the cooperation between the suspect and the victim. This is a car business. The first transaction was smooth, the second was smooth, the third was smooth," said Muhamad Normansyah.

The victim's behavior triggered the suspect's anger. The perpetrator then tricked the victim into going to a cafe in the Duren Sawit area. However, when the victim arrived at the location, he was held captive by the suspect.

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Muhamad Normansyah said this case began with a default on a car sale and purchase agreement between the victim and the alleged perpetrator HRA.

Before this case, the two were known to be good friends, and the victim was known to be good at managing the car buying and selling business. Then, in October 2023, the victim and HRA agreed to divide the profits of car sales by a ratio of 60:40.

On three car sales, the business went smoothly. However, in the fourth transaction, the victim experienced problems in carrying out the repayment because the money of around Rp100 million from the sale of the car that should have been handed over to HRA was used by the victim for urgent personal needs.

HRA did not accept this and asked the victim to come to a café in Jaktim on Monday, 19 February 2024, on the pretext that she wanted to ask for help to pawn the car.

Once at the café, HRA immediately demanded MRR to pay off the debt. "The perpetrator became angry and finally carried out the confinement of the victim, seized all the victim's belongings, consisting of three mobile phones, one bag, one wallet, and some money, and started various kinds of torture by the perpetrator and his friends," said Muhamad Normansyah.

About three months later, the victim finally managed to escape. The victim's family reported the case to the Duren Sawit Police on 19 June 2024, and the East Jakarta Metro Police are now handling it.

Furthermore, Muhamad Normansyah revealed the confinement and torture carried out by the suspects against his client. He admitted that the suspects' cruel behavior had been going on for about three months.

"Our client has allegedly been held captive, bullied, tortured, terrorized, threatened and deprived for almost three months by 30 people at the cafe," he said.

Muhamad Normansyah said that his client's treatment was ruthless. MRR was handcuffed and tied using cables.

In addition, MRR was also stripped naked and beaten in turn.

"Tortured with various methods that are more cruel than the colonial era, the victim was handcuffed and tied using cables, stripped naked and beaten alternately, his genital area was put in chili powder and burned, the nipples were clamped using cutting pliers," he said.

Not only that, his client was also forced to eat gravel and cigarette butts, smoked cigarettes at many points, and whipped using a hose and belt until his head was hit using a 3 kg gas holder.

Muhamad Normansyah revealed that his client is currently experiencing severe trauma due to physical violence in the form of bullying, torture that caused injuries, and psychological disorders.

"The victim's condition is still often forgetful, some memory is lost, sometimes sleeps with her eyes open, and likes to panic in the car because she is afraid that someone is following her," he said.

Muhamad Normansyah said the victim often screamed spontaneously when she saw a car similar to that of the alleged perpetrator. However, the victim refused to be hospitalized.

"He didn't want to be treated (in hospital). He was scared. His house is terrorized almost every day. So he moved to his relative's house. Every day he is worried like someone is watching him," he said. *** (Politeknik Negeri Bandung/Ahyaithannisa Taufik)