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Law/Politics

Extreme Violence in Pati

BH, a 52-year-old rental car owner from Jakarta, tracked a stolen vehicle to Sukolilo Village in Pati, Central Java last Thursday. Sadly, he didn’t make it out alive — he was beaten to death by villagers in an especially troubling case of mob brutality in Indonesia.

That day, BH and his three companions had located his car and was about to take it back using a spare key. But his actions were reportedly misinterpreted by locals who thought he was stealing the vehicle. The apparent misunderstanding escalated quickly, leading to BH and his companions being attacked by an angry crowd.

As seen in videos from the incident that have circulated online, the mob's rage did not stop at physical assault; they also set the car on fire. The brutal attack left BH dead and his companions severely injured. The local police have arrested two individuals suspected of inciting the violence, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of involvement from other community members.

This may just be the beginning of the arrests, as it has since come to light that Sukolilo is a notorious “bandit village,” particularly associated with rental car thefts. Perhaps it was not misunderstanding that killed BH after all, and we can only hope everyone involved is brought to justice.

In Other News

• In another horrifying case, a policewoman identified by her initials FN has been arrested after she allegedly handcuffed and set her husband — who is also a cop — on fire. The incident, which took place on Saturday morning in Mojokerto, East Java, saw FN securing her husband, dousing him with gasoline, and igniting him on fire, leading to severe burns that ultimately resulted in his death. She told investigators that she was furious that her husband had been spending their money on online gambling.

• Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), who are two different peas in very distinct pods, seem to be open to the idea of teaming up for the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election — if only to stand up against the political juggernaut that President Joko Widodo and his allies have formed. Even the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), long a proponent of Anies and an opponent of PDI-P, would be okay with the partnership.

• The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seized 91 luxury vehicles — including a Ferrari and a McLaren — belonging to former Kutai Kartanegara Regent Rita Widyasari. Rita, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 for receiving bribes for permits in Kutai Kartanegara, is now under new KPK investigation for money laundering.

Business/Economy

• Consumer perception of the current economic condition in Indonesia has declined, according to a survey by Bank Indonesia (BI). The survey noted a drop in the Current Economic Condition Index (IKE) to 115.4 in May 2024 from 119.4 the previous month. This decrease reflects growing concerns among consumers about economic stability, influenced by factors such as inflation and job market uncertainties. 

• Not all dig the government’s new regulations allowing religious mass organizations to manage mining concessions. Though the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is interested, Muhammadiyah says they are still weighing the pros and cons of jumping onboard. The Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) has sternly opposed the idea, highlighting concerns about environmental degradation and social impacts. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) oppose on the grounds that they do not have the expertise to manage mines.

Everything Else

• A British national in Bali went full GTA by stealing a truck and crashing through a toll gate and the entrance to Ngurah Rai Airport late Sunday. Authorities have detained the 50-year-old foreigner, identified by his initials DAAH, and are investigating the motives behind this bizarre incident.

• East Jakarta residents must be itching to cry foul after the city’s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) announced its intention to enforce a 2007 regional bylaw that could be used as a basis to fine households with mosquito larvae up to IDR 50 million. This stringent measure is part of an aggressive campaign to combat dengue fever by maintaining cleanliness and eliminating stagnant water where mosquitoes breed, thereby mitigating the spread of the disease. 

• Meanwhile, in West Jakarta, the city’s Health Department is preparing to release Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in a novel strategy to combat dengue fever. Wolbachia is a type of bacteria that, when introduced to mosquito populations, can significantly reduce their ability to transmit dengue.

• The Plaza Indonesia security guard who was fired after he was filmed by a bystander hitting his guard dog said he did it to stop the Belgian Shepherd from killing a kitten. A CCTV recording has since circulated online, seemingly corroborating his side of the story. But eagle-eyed netizens noticed that the incident involving the kitten occurred elsewhere and likely at another time, suggesting that the first video to go viral did not depict an isolated incident of animal abuse.

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