Four charged after Jakarta padel employee allegedly kidnapped and assaulted over missing racket
A Jakarta padel employee was allegedly held for two days and assaulted after being accused of stealing a racket worth Rp50 million. Police have charged four co-workers, while the company apologised and said it did not authorise or condone the alleged violence.
- Police have charged four suspects over the alleged kidnapping, assault and unlawful detention of a padel employee.
- The victim was allegedly held for two days after being accused of stealing a Rp50 million racket.
- Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has called for firm legal action while Pedal Padel Indonesia apologised.
Indonesian police have charged four people over the alleged kidnapping, unlawful detention and assault of a padel court employee in South Jakarta who was accused of stealing a racket worth Rp50 million (about US$3,000), in a case that has drawn widespread public attention and prompted calls for firm legal action from Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung.
The case, now under investigation by South Jakarta Metro Police, centres on Abdul Latif, identified by the initials AL, who allegedly disappeared for two days after being taken from his family home by several people claiming to be employees of Pedal Padel.
According to the victim's family, the incident began on 21 June when several individuals came to Abdul Latif's home and accused him of stealing a padel racket from Pedal Padel, where he had worked for around two months.
They allegedly demanded the family pay Rp50 million in compensation before taking him to the company's premises.
The family alleged that Abdul Latif was then held against his will and assaulted.
He reportedly sustained multiple injuries, including facial bruising, blackened eyes, broken teeth and wounds to his legs.
His family said he was detained for about two days.
On 23 June, Abdul Latif contacted his family via a video call using another employee's mobile phone. According to the family, he appeared with extensive bruising across his face and swollen eyes.
The victim's mother said she had offered to pay Rp1 million per month because of the family's financial circumstances, but the proposal was rejected and they were allegedly told to pay the full Rp50 million.
The family also alleged that two motorcycles belonging to the victim's brother and a Xiaomi mobile phone were taken as collateral.
Police arrest four suspects
The case came to light after the victim's mother reported him missing to South Jakarta Metro Police on 24 June, saying he had not returned home for two days after being taken away.
"The person who filed the police report was a woman identified as M. She explained that her son, identified by the initials AL, had been taken from their home on Monday and had not returned for two days," South Jakarta Metro Police spokesperson AKP Joko Adi said.
Police said officers from the criminal investigation unit responded immediately after receiving the report.
"Regarding this case, there was indeed a police report. After receiving the report, that day the Resmob team of the South Jakarta Metro Police moved quickly and then arrested the perpetrator," Joko told reporters on Friday, 26 June.
Investigators later upgraded the case to a formal criminal investigation and named four suspects.
"The perpetrators are four people with the initials ASB, RRK, AH, and DW. All four suspects have been detained," Joko said.
Police said the suspects and the victim worked at the same padel facility and were acquainted with one another.
According to investigators, preliminary findings indicate the victim was accused of taking property from his workplace. Police said they are continuing to investigate the motive behind the alleged detention.
The four suspects have been charged under Indonesian laws relating to unlawful deprivation of liberty, assault and jointly committed violence.
Company apologises
Following widespread circulation of the case on social media, Pedal Padel Indonesia issued a public apology and said it would fully cooperate with the legal process.
"Pedal Padel Indonesia conveys its deepest apologies for the incident allegedly involving several Pedal Padel employees, which is currently undergoing legal proceedings," the company's management said in a statement posted on its official Instagram account on Monday.
The company said the alleged actions of the employees "were completely unknown, were not instructed, and were not approved by the owners or the management of Pedal Padel in any capacity."
Management said the company had previously conducted an internal review into the alleged misuse of company assets and reported the matter to police.
"However, that process cannot under any circumstances justify acts of violence in any form," the statement added.
Governor calls for firm action
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung urged law enforcement authorities to take firm action, saying violence and unlawful detention should not be tolerated in the capital.
"So if anyone commits acts of violence or unlawful detention, I ask law enforcement authorities, including the Jakarta provincial government, to take firm action. It must not happen," Pramono told reporters at Jakarta City Hall on Monday.
