An Indian national identified as Gupta was robbed while walking along Jalan Gondangdia III in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Friday (4 September 2026). The incident occurred as he was making his way to the Pura Mangala Vinayaka Ganesha Temple in Cikini, Menteng, to worship.
Gupta was walking alone and using his mobile phone when two men riding a motorbike allegedly approached him from behind. Police said the victim’s attention was distracted by his phone, leaving him unaware that the two suspects were following him.
Menteng Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Valerij Lekahena said the victim was on his way to the temple when the incident took place.
“The victim was on his way to a place of worship, that place of worship. Whilst on his way, he was using his mobile phone, so he was on his mobile whilst walking,” Valerij said during a press conference at the Central Jakarta Police Headquarters on Monday (7 September 2026).
The two suspects then moved alongside Gupta before one of them allegedly grabbed his mobile phone and fled.
“The victim didn’t realise that two people on a motorbike had appeared and suddenly snatched or took his mobile phone on the street; the perpetrators drove off straight away,” Valerij said.
Gupta reportedly attempted to chase the suspects but was unsuccessful. He was later seen crying on the roadside before local residents and online motorcycle taxi drivers came to his assistance and helped him report the incident to Menteng Police.
Police Identify Suspect Through CCTV
Following the report, a joint team from the Central Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation Unit and Menteng Police began investigating the case. Officers collected CCTV footage from the area and analysed the images to identify the suspects.
Central Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKBP Sang Ngurah Wiratama said the footage was compared with facial recognition data held by the police identification team.
“We obtained the CCTV footage; after analysing it and cross-referencing it with the facial recognition data held by the police station’s identification unit, it led us to a repeat offender with the initials NJ,” Wiratama said.
Police identified the suspect as 37 year old Nico Januarkardo, also known by his initials NJ. He was arrested in Johar Baru, Central Jakarta, in the early hours of Sunday (6 September) at around 1.30am.
The arrest was made less than 24 hours after investigators identified NJ as the suspected perpetrator.
Police said NJ had previously been arrested around five years ago for a similar offence. A urine test conducted following his latest arrest showed that he tested negative for drugs.
“The modus operandi was driven purely by financial necessity. The perpetrator did not target specific victims, but instead took advantage of the inattention of members of the public using their mobile phones whilst out on the streets,” Wiratama said.
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Victim Was Working in Indonesia, Police Search for Second Suspect
Police have clarified that Gupta was not a tourist visiting Jakarta. According to Wiratama, he is an Indian national who works in Indonesia and had been scheduled to return to India the following day.
The loss of his phone was particularly distressing given his imminent departure.
Police seized several items believed to be connected to the incident, including a Honda CBR 150R motorbike, a helmet, the clothing allegedly worn during the robbery and the victim’s Samsung S25 mobile phone. Police said the phone had been hidden by NJ before being handed over to officers by his family.
Investigators said NJ allegedly carried out the robbery with another man identified as RK, also known as Rio Kubil. According to police, NJ was the motorbike rider while RK allegedly took the phone from Gupta.
RK has since been placed on the police wanted list as investigators continue efforts to locate him.
The case also remains under investigation as police examine whether NJ may have been involved in similar incidents in other areas.
NJ has been charged under Article 477 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP), concerning aggravated theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
