A 52-year-old public minivan (angkot) driver, identified by his initial S, sustained severe burn injuries covering 40 percent of his body after allegedly being set on fire by a colleague, P (38), in the Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta. The horrific incident unfolded on Saturday, April 25, around 9:00 AM WIB, along Jalan Kiai Haji Mas Mansyur in Kebon Melati Urban Village, leaving the victim with extensive injuries.
According to Tanah Abang Police Chief AKBP Dhimas Prasetyo, who spoke to reporters on Sunday, April 26, the victim’s burns were widespread, affecting areas from his head to his thighs. Specifically, S suffered burns to his ear, left arm, waist, and left thigh, underscoring the gravity of his condition following the brutal attack.
Currently, S is undergoing intensive care at a local hospital. His condition remains critical, requiring ongoing medical intervention, including complex surgical procedures. Chief Prasetyo further explained that S was receiving a hemoglobin transfusion due to low levels and was scheduled for burn debridement surgery by a specialized surgical team the following day, highlighting the extensive medical journey ahead.
Authorities have swiftly launched a full-scale investigation into the heinous assault, questioning four witnesses to gather crucial evidence. Despite these efforts, the alleged perpetrator, P, remains at large and is actively being pursued by the police in an extensive manhunt to bring him to justice for this shocking act of violence.
The violent altercation reportedly began when S was waiting for passengers (a common practice known as “ngetem”) in front of the Tanah Abang Sub-district office. P, driving his own angkot, arrived at the scene and brazenly cut the queue. This inconsiderate act provoked S to reprimand his colleague, a rebuke that, according to Chief Prasetyo, infuriated P.
In a shocking and desperate escalation, the suspect drove his angkot in a circle, then pulled up directly alongside S’s vehicle. P then allegedly committed the abhorrent act, opening the driver’s door and pouring gasoline directly onto S, who was still inside his minivan. Without hesitation, P ignited the fuel with a lighter, setting S ablaze.
Chief Prasetyo confirmed that the instant ignition caused S’s body to catch fire, simultaneously engulfing the angkot in flames. As a direct and devastating consequence of the premeditated attack, the victim’s minivan was completely destroyed by the inferno, while S sustained severe burns, including to his back, left buttock, and left hand.
Police are intensifying their efforts to apprehend the suspect, P, who fled the scene immediately after committing the crime. The investigation continues tirelessly as authorities work to ensure the alleged attacker faces legal repercussions for this profound act of violence that has shocked the Jakarta crime landscape.