Due to Online Gambling, a Man in Boyolali Kills His Neighbor's Child while Trying to Rob a Motorcycle

POLDA JATENG - The case of theft accompanied by murder in Karanggede District, Boyolali Regency, is a bitter reminder of the bad impact of online gambling. A man who went blind after losing many times playing online gambling of the slot type, dared to kill the child of his neighbor.

In front of the media, Boyolali Police Chief AKBP Indra Maulana Saputra revealed that a sadistic robbery occurred to the victim's family in Pengkol Village, Karanggede District, Boyolali, Thursday, January 29, 2026, afternoon. The incident resulted in a woman named Daryanti (34) being seriously injured, with her son, AO (6), killed by the perpetrator.

"The sadistic act was actually carried out by the perpetrator with the initials A (30), who is none other than a close neighbor of the victim. The perpetrator was arrested on Friday, January 30, 2026, early in the morning in the Kudus area," said AKBP Indra, in a written statement received, Friday, February 6, 2026.

From the results of the examination, it was revealed that the motive for the perpetrator to deliberately injure the victim and kill his child was due to debt between the victim and the perpetrator due to online gambling addiction.

"The suspect came to the victim's house by pretending to pay off debts. However, behind it, the suspect intends to steal the victim's vehicle as a way out of the debt cycle due to online gambling addiction (judol)," explained AKBP Indra.

Indra said the suspect had a lot of debt due to the habit of playing online gambling. In addition to losing judol, his wife's motorcycle has also been pledged for Rp. 4 million, so the suspect admitted that he was confused about finding money to pay off debts and redeem his wife's motorcycle.

"Finally, the suspect had the intention to steal the victim's vehicle with the intention that the stolen goods would be pledged to get money to pay off debts and redeem his wife's motorcycle," said Indra.

The action ended tragically because it caused Daryanti to suffer serious injuries and her son, AO, who is still six years old, died tragically at the scene. The suspect was determined to kill the little boy because he was afraid his actions would be known.

After carrying out the action, the suspect then took away the victim's motorcycle and fled to the Kudus area before finally being arrested and secured by officers in less than 24 hours from the time of the incident.

"For the condition of the victim's mother, who was initially critical and undergoing intensive care in the ICU, two days ago her condition began to improve and she has now returned home," he explained.

For his actions, the perpetrator was charged with Article 80 paragraph (3) of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, Article 479 paragraph (2) letter c of the Criminal Code concerning Theft with Violence, Article 466 paragraph (2) of the Criminal Code concerning Abuse Causing Serious Injury, Article 459 jo Article 17 of the Criminal Code concerning Attempted Murder with Planning, and Article 458 paragraph (1) jo Article 17 of the Criminal Code concerning Attempted Murder, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or 20 years in prison.

Head of Public Relations of Central Java Police, Kombes Artanto reminded the public not to take the dangers of online gambling lightly. According to him, online gambling practices often become the gateway to various serious problems, ranging from economic problems, social fractures, to criminal acts that lead to human tragedy.