Story Of Alleged Kidnapping In Online Taxi Which Turns Out To Be Just A Misunderstanding

Reporters and reported cases of suspected kidnapping in online taxis make peace (Rizky Adytia Pramana / VOI)

JAKARTA - The social media scene was busy discussing the alleged abduction of women by online taxi drivers. However, this assumption was not proven because it was just a misunderstanding. In the end, women and online taxi drivers are peaceful and do not prolong the issue.

It is Tian, a woman who claims to be a victim of an attempted kidnapping, uploading the story to her personal social media. The woman said that on Thursday, February 6, she ordered an online taxi service to be delivered to two locations. First to Darmawangsa and then to the Ice BSD area.

Not long ago, online taxi driver Muhammad Imam Sohibi arrived at the pick-up location, which is in the Palmerah area, West Jakarta. Without suspicion, Tian got into the car to be escorted to his destination.

However, in the middle of the trip, the online taxi driver was driving his car towards the Kebon Jeruk toll road in the direction of Tangerang. Thus, Tian raised suspicion because the original purpose of the trip was to the Darmawangsa area, South Jakarta.

Tian also had time to question the direction of the road chosen by the Imam. However, the online taxi driver argued that it was as shown by the directions application.

In fact, in the narrative that Tian wrote on his social media accounts, the Imam was seen communicating with someone using certain codes. Panicked because she was afraid to become a victim of crime, the woman pressed the emergency button on the online taxi application.

Then, Tian also asked the Imam to be dropped off at the edge of the Kebon Jeruk Toll Road. Several days later, Tian reported to Polda Metro Jaya on suspicion of attempted kidnapping.

Tuesday, 11 February, Imam was arrested in the Bekasi area, West Java. Furthermore, the online taxi driver was examined intensively. However, the police did not immediately determine him as a suspect. Instead, clarify in advance about the attempted kidnapping.

Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Yusri Yunus, said that the investigation agenda was also to find out whether there was a criminal act in the report. Because, from the statement reported or the online taxi driver said there was no intention of kidnapping.

"We are still investigating this, whether there is a criminal element or not. Later, from the results of all this, we will organize whether it meets the elements or not," said Yusri, Tuesday, February 12.

In an effort to find a common thread in the case, investigators also presented Tian as the reporter. As a result, there is a misunderstanding between the two of them. So, the investigators also brought together the two parties to be mediated.

As a result of the mediation, Tian and Imam agreed to make peace. So that the case did not proceed to the investigation stage. Then, they also had time to provide information about the alleged kidnapping.

According to Tian, this case arose because of the panic he was experiencing at that time. In fact, the actual incident was not what was imagined.

"The driver and I have apologized to each other and forgive the misunderstanding that occurred. Therefore, I apologize to MIS, the family and Grab (where the Imam is partnering) for the crowd that happened," said Tian.

Besides, regarding the codes he heard at that time, it wasn't something dangerous. Instead, the Imam was communicating with his family by telephone.

The Imam's voice was deliberately lowered for fear of disturbing his comfort while traveling. This became known only after the two were met by investigators. With that misunderstanding, Tian will also withdraw the police report he has made in the near future.

"As soon as possible (withdraw the report), as of today I also want to withdraw the report," said Tian briefly.

Meanwhile, the Imam, who was not proven to be the perpetrator of the kidnapping attempt, forgave all the accusations directed at him. In fact, he did not even bother to sue Tian because he had defamed him.

"I already forgive. I do not want to bother to report it. It's finished," said Imam.