TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Labor rights activist and also Presidential Advisor for Labor and Workers’ Welfare in Indonesia, Said Iqbal, admitted to have reported the kidnapping of three employees in Senen, Central Jakarta, to President Prabowo Subianto. The three victims identified as MRJ, TS, and AS were allegedly detained by seven people after being accused of theft.
Iqbal said he had visited the house of one of the victims to ensure their condition. Based on the victims’ statements, he learned about the various forms of violence they had experienced. “Being detained and not given food for three days, chained, and treated in a inhumane and unkind manner,” said Iqbal during a press conference with the police at the Jakarta Metro Police Headquarters on Friday, July 3, 2026.
In addition to experiencing the kidnapping, Iqbal mentioned that the victims only received a monthly wage of Rp500,000. They also worked irregular hours without receiving overtime pay. “From a labor law perspective, many violations have occurred,” he said.
According to the victims’ statements, the perpetrators also intimidated them to prevent further legal action. “I found that several individuals were threatening them to drop the case,” said Iqbal.
The Labor Party President also revealed that the victims were offered hush money. “Directly from the victims, they were promised money, even up to Rp1 billion per person,” he said. However, the victims rejected the offer. “They refused because they need justice,” said Iqbal.
Iqbal stated that he had conveyed all these findings to the President. “These are my findings in the field and I have conveyed them to the President through a presidential brief,” he said.
In addition to the President, Iqbal claimed to have also reported the case to the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. “I also discussed this case with the police chief, and he was very responsive,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police have named seven suspects who allegedly played various roles in the case. The police suspect the perpetrators detained, extorted, tortured, and threatened three employees identified as MRJ, TS, and AS for 21 days since June 5, 2026.
“Seven individuals suspected of being involved in the kidnapping have been detained,” said the Chief of the Central Jakarta Metro Police, Grand Commissioner Reynold E. P. Hutagalung during a press conference on Monday, June 29, 2026.
The police received the report on June 26, 2026, around 9:00 p.m. Personnel from the Senen Police Sector then visited the scene and found three victims identified as AS, MR, and TS. The officers immediately evacuated the victims and arrested the seven alleged perpetrators.
The incident took place at Mau Print printing press located at 182 East Kalibaru Street, RT 003/RW 002, Bungur Village, Senen District, Central Jakarta. Mau Print had previously suspected the three victims of stealing iron printing plates. The company claimed to have suffered a loss of Rp230 million due to the alleged theft.
Instead of pursuing legal action, the perpetrators allegedly forced the three victims to sign a statement to compensate the company’s losses. Each victim was asked to pay Rp50 million, totaling Rp150 million.
According to the police, the perpetrators then held the three victims captive inside the company’s building. They chained and locked the victims’ legs, and contacted their families to demand payment for reimbursement.
On June 20, 2026, one of the victims’ families paid Rp50 million to Mau Print. “However, the victim AS was still shackled on the second floor, while TS and MR remained shackled on the third floor,” said Reynold.
In the investigation of this case, the police seized several pieces of evidence, including iron chains, steel cable slings, several padlocks along with their keys, leg restraints, grinders, drills, a BCA ATM card in the name of II, and Rp55 million in cash which is suspected to be related to the case.
The police have charged the suspects with multiple articles of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP), namely Article 482 on extortion, Article 446 on kidnapping, and/or Article 471 on torture. The suspects face a maximum imprisonment of nine years.
Currently, the seven suspects have been detained at the Central Jakarta Metro Police Detention Center for further investigation.
Read: KSPI Has Supported Prabowo Since 2014 Election, Said Iqbal Says
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