The driver of a car with the initials HM (25) drove against the traffic and crashed into several vehicles on Jalan Gunung Sahari, Sawah Besar District, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, the 25th of February.
A police investigation revealed that HM was carrying sharp weapons and toy guns in his car.
The incident began when HM’s car was reportedly being driven recklessly from Senen towards Jalan Gunung Sahari. Officers then pursued the perpetrator and instructed him to stop. However, HM did not comply and instead accelerated at high speed.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the car driven by HM travelling in the opposite direction of traffic. The car struck several motorcycles, prompting local residents and other motorists at the scene to pursue the vehicle. HM continued driving forwards and backwards in an attempt to escape, eventually crashing into more cars and motorcycles on the road, including a police car. The driver’s actions further angered nearby residents, who continued chasing HM’s car and striking it with their helmets. Shortly afterwards, the car was finally surrounded and brought to a stop by residents, bystanders and the police.
It was also revealed that HM was in the car with someone whom he later claimed to be his girlfriend.
“[The female passenger] is still being investigated,” said the Jakarta Metro Police Traffic Director, Senior Commissioner Komarudin.
On the following day (Thursday, 26th of February), HM claimed that he did not want to stop because he panicked after being chased by the crowd. He also stated that he drove against the flow of traffic because he was afraid of being issued a ticket by the police. At the time, he did not possess a driver’s licence or a vehicle registration certificate.
Moreover, it was revealed that HM was originally from Sidoarjo Regency, East Java.
“I was going against the flow and couldn’t stop. I panicked,” HM said.
Further police investigations also revealed that HM had several weapons in the car. He was found carrying two sharp weapons — a machete and a dagger — as well as a toy firearm. Additionally, four different licence plates were discovered inside the vehicle.
Based on the evidence found, the case has been handed over to investigators from the Central Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit to examine possible indications of a planned crime involving HM. The Chief of the Central Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKBP Roby Heri Saputra, further revealed that HM’s car was using a fake licence plate and that HM is also suspected of using a fake ID card.
“The ID card used [by HM] is most likely not the correct one, because we checked and it doesn’t match the data from the Civil Registration Department,” Saputra said.
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