Indonesian Army Soldiers Implicated in Fatal Abduction of State Bank Manager

Investigation Uncovers Military and Civilian Roles in Bank Manager's Murder

Jakarta, Indonesia – Two Indonesian army soldiers, including a member of the elite Special Forces (Kopassus), along with 13 civilian suspects, have been implicated in the fatal abduction and murder of a state bank manager. The Jakarta Military Police Command (Pomdam Jaya) confirmed the involvement of military personnel in the high-profile case that has drawn national attention. The victim, Mohamad Ilham Pradipta, 37, who served as the head of a sub-branch of state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), was kidnapped on August 20 and found dead the following day.

Details of the Abduction and Discovery

Mohamad Ilham Pradipta was abducted from a supermarket parking lot in East Jakarta on August 20. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Ilham being surrounded and forced into a white Toyota Avanza before being transferred to another vehicle. His body was discovered on August 21 in a rice field in Nagasari village, Bekasi, West Java, bound with duct tape, indicating severe abuse.

Key Suspects and Their Alleged Roles

The investigation, a joint effort by the Jakarta Military Police Command and the Jakarta Metro Police, has led to the arrest of 15 suspects, with one still at large. Among those in custody are two Indonesian army soldiers:

• Chief Sergeant N: A member of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), allegedly directly involved in the kidnapping and homicide, and tasked with abducting Ilham.
• Second Corporal FH: Accused of acting as an intermediary, recruiting other individuals for the crime, and was reportedly absent without leave at the time of the incident.

Colonel Donny Agus Priyanto, Commander of the Military Police of the Jakarta Military Command, stated that Corporal FH was not directly involved in the abduction or murder but played a facilitating role. The civilian suspects include alleged masterminds identified as Dwi Hartono, C alias Ken, YJ, and AA, who are part of a larger syndicate.

Motive Linked to Dormant Bank Accounts

Authorities believe the primary motive behind the abduction and murder was a criminal syndicate's attempt to gain access to and exploit dormant bank accounts at Bank BRI. Investigators revealed that a suspect known as 'Candy' allegedly possessed detailed knowledge of these accounts at Ilham's branch, making the bank manager a specific target. The syndicate's plan was to coerce Ilham into transferring funds from these dormant accounts to their controlled accounts. Brigadier General Freddy Ardianza, head of the TNI Information Center, affirmed that any soldier proven to have committed violations or crimes would be dealt with firmly according to applicable laws.