Residents of Krendang Selatan, Tambora, West Jakarta, were recently thrown into a stir by viral CCTV footage that circulated widely across social media platforms. The video showed a man carrying something that appeared eerily similar to a human body, fueling widespread speculation among the public that he was transporting a corpse.
Addressing the growing public concern and dispelling the rumors, AKBP Arfan Zulkan Sipayung, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the West Jakarta Metro Police, promptly clarified the situation. He emphatically stated that the object carried by the man in the alarming CCTV recording was not a human body, but rather a large, live monitor lizard.
“Yes, the monitor lizard was still alive,” Arfan confirmed when contacted on Sunday, February 8th. He further explained, “Because he didn’t have money, he was walking (carrying the monitor lizard). So, he stopped by some swampy areas along the way.” This detail helped paint a clearer picture of the man’s journey and circumstances.
The incident, which became the subject of intense public discussion, reportedly occurred on Saturday, February 7th, around 6:58 PM Western Indonesian Time. It took place specifically in Kampung Krendang Selatan, Gang 2, RT 012/06, Krendang Village, Tambora District, West Jakarta. The man was conspicuously seen carrying a large sack, which ultimately led residents to assume its contents were a human corpse, triggering the initial panic.
According to Arfan’s investigation, the man reportedly acquired the monitor lizard from the Petojo Animal Market. He was then making his way back to his rented accommodation in the Tambora area, carrying the animal on foot, which contributed to the unusual sight.
“It was likely from the Petojo Animal Market over there. There’s an animal market in Petojo, you know,” Arfan elaborated, providing context for the animal’s origin.
Following the rapid virality of the video, police swiftly launched an investigation to ascertain the facts and provide official clarification. Officers visited the man’s residence and matched his clothing to the distinctive features visible in the CCTV footage, thus confirming his identity and involvement in the incident.
“Police went to his rented place for clarification. He was wearing clothes identical to those in the video. So, it was indeed him,” Arfan stated definitively, validating the police’s findings.
Arfan emphasized that the man was not taken to the police station because the investigation found no elements of a legal violation had occurred. This underscores the purely clarificatory nature of the police’s intervention.
“Therefore, we didn’t take him to the sub-district police station; it was solely for clarification as no wrongdoing was committed. He genuinely intended to keep it as a pet,” Arfan explained, detailing the man’s innocent intention.
The man reportedly admitted that he was bringing the monitor lizard home to be kept as a pet, despite the animal being classified as potentially dangerous due to its size and nature. His motive was purely personal, not malicious.
“To be kept as a pet, he wanted to keep it as a pet,” Arfan reiterated succinctly, confirming the man’s desire.
Arfan further noted that the significant size of the monitor lizard was a primary factor contributing to the widespread misunderstanding among residents. Its unusual length made it appear more formidable and misleadingly human-like.
“It was very large. Nearly 2 meters, about 1.7 meters long,” he specified, providing precise dimensions that explained the initial confusion.
Regarding the virality of the video, Arfan concluded that the entire incident was purely a result of public misunderstanding and misinterpretation. There was no foul play, only a visual anomaly misinterpreted by eyewitnesses.
“It was merely an assumption by residents who thought the sack contained a corpse, when in fact, it did not,” Arfan clarified, directly addressing the core of the public’s error.
He also added that no specific guidance or counseling was required for the man, as no laws or regulations had been violated. The situation did not warrant any further official intervention beyond clarification.
“No, there isn’t. It would be rather amusing to counsel someone for carrying a snake, for instance. Because it effectively amounted to a baseless accusation, when he wasn’t carrying a corpse at all,” Arfan concluded firmly, defending the man from unfounded claims.