West Jakarta driver assault case settled out of court; Amnesty warns of impunity

The assault case involving a ride-hailing motorcycle driver and an Indonesian military (TNI) officer in West Jakarta has officially been settled out of court, police confirmed on Wednesday, bringing an end to a case that had drawn public attention and sparked debate about accountability involving security personnel.

The incident occurred in Meruya, Kembangan, West Jakarta, on 4 February 2026 at around 8.30 pm local time. The victim, identified as Hasan, 26, was reportedly assaulted after delivering a passenger to what turned out to be an incorrect address.

Metro Jaya Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto said the dispute had been resolved amicably between the parties involved.

“The assault case involving the ride-hailing driver in Kembangan has been settled through a family-based resolution,” Budi said on 11 February 2026.

According to police, the victim has formally withdrawn his complaint, resulting in the termination of the investigation.

“The complainant has withdrawn his report, and therefore the case has been closed,” Budi added.

Incident Triggered by Address Confusion

The incident began when Hasan accepted a booking from a passenger named Nur, who intended to travel to Cilebar Street in Kembangan, West Jakarta. However, upon arrival, the passenger admitted she did not know the precise destination and said she had only been instructed to go to the home of the eventual assailant.

Hasan then asked the passenger to contact the homeowner. During the call, the phone was handed to Hasan so he could request directions directly. Instead, according to Hasan, the individual responded angrily and used harsh language.

“I politely asked, ‘Sir, I’m already on Kecapi Street, where exactly is your house?’ but the response was rude,” Hasan recalled.

Despite the tense exchange, Hasan proceeded to deliver the passenger to the location. Upon arrival, a verbal altercation occurred, and Hasan was subsequently assaulted, suffering injuries to his face.

Compensation and Mediation

According to separate reporting, the dispute was resolved after mediation between both parties, during which the perpetrator agreed to compensate Hasan and cover his medical expenses as a form of accountability.

Hasan later explained that the assailant’s anger stemmed partly from stress due to his wife being ill at the time. It also emerged that the passenger Hasan transported was the family’s regular massage therapist, which had contributed to the confusion.

Hasan expressed gratitude to social media users and news outlets for drawing attention to the case, saying public attention accelerated the resolution process.

Amnesty International Warns Against Impunity

Despite the settlement, Amnesty International Indonesia criticised the handling of the incident and warned against allowing violence involving military personnel to be resolved without transparent legal accountability.

Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid stated that such cases illustrate persistent problems involving security personnel operating in civilian spaces.

He argued that repeated incidents of violence involving uniformed personnel undermine official rhetoric urging security forces to maintain close relations with the public, calling instead for comprehensive reform within the military.

From a human rights perspective, Amnesty noted that verbal dehumanisation and physical assault violate the victim’s right to physical and mental integrity.

The organisation also criticised what it described as the police’s initial reluctance to process the complaint, allegedly directing the case toward military jurisdiction until the incident gained traction on social media.

Amnesty argued that assault remains a criminal offence under civilian law and should not be handled solely through internal military mechanisms, which critics say often lack transparency and risk enabling impunity.

The organisation further warned that justice should not depend on social media virality, saying the state must guarantee equal access to legal protection for all citizens.