Journalist Arrested After Extorting Middle-aged Man Suspected Of Cheating At Hotel Sentul

DEPOK – Two journalists were arrested by the Cimanggis Criminal Investigation Unit for extorting a man suspected of having an affair with another woman at a hotel in the Sentul area, Bogor. Cimanggis Police Chief Kompol Ibrahim Joao Sadjab said the perpetrator's mode of action was to follow the victim when he was alone with a woman at the hotel, then take pictures/photos with a cellphone. The victim, continued the police chief, was followed up to his house in the Tapos area, Depok.

The police chief continued, the perpetrator met the victim at home and showed a photo of him being alone with a woman. At that time, the perpetrator threatened to spread the photo on social media and post the photo on the media, if not given Rp10 million.

"The perpetrators followed victim B (50) to her house in the Tapos area. After arriving at the house, the perpetrator chatted with the victim threatening to share photos with other women in the hotel to go viral," Ibrahim explained when confirmed by reporters, Wednesday, November 24.

Fearing that his family would find out, the victim complied with the perpetrator's request, which was to give Rp. 10 million.

"The victim was afraid to ask that the photo kept by the perpetrator of the two of them with another woman not to be disseminated to the mass media. But for all of this, the perpetrator asked the victim for money of around 10 million, then he gave it," he explained.

The money transfer transaction was carried out at a mini market near the victim's house. And therein lies the extortion. The minimarket waiter was suspicious when he saw the perpetrator immediately took the money that the victim had just taken from the ATM.

"The minimarket waiter suspected that the victim was being hypnotized and asked the parking attendant to shout the thief until he was caught by residents in residential areas," said Ibrahim.

The police who received the report, immediately headed to the location. At that time, the perpetrator was being detained by local residents.

"One of the three perpetrators we arrested claimed to be a journalist, we also arrested. And the other two actors participated in blackmailing the victim," he explained.

From the suspect's crime, the police secured a number of evidences in the form of cash, proof of transfer, the reporter's ID card belonging to the perpetrator and the perpetrator's car.

"The perpetrators MB (39), AD (40), SF (35) are subject to Article 368 of the Criminal Code regarding extortion with a criminal threat of up to 5 years in prison," concluded Ibrahim.