Magelang City Police provided an official clarification responding to a viral social media video depicting the alleged seizure of a motorcycle by debt collectors in the Gunung Pring area, Muntilan District. Police emphasized that the circulating narrative does not align with the legal facts on the ground.
Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigation at Magelang Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police (AKP) Toyib, explained that police conducted an in-depth investigation by examining the debtor, the financing company, and several eyewitnesses. The result showed that the incident was not a seizure, but a personal agreement regarding the settlement of overdue vehicle installments.
The issue began when a debtor with the initials R experienced difficulty paying installment arrears. An external financing officer with the initials A then took the initiative to lend bailout funds to R. As collateral, R voluntarily handed over his motorcycle to A. Thus, the relationship between the two turned into a personal lending transaction after R's obligations to the financing company were settled.
The tension was actually triggered by A's behavior, who drove a car with an open, loud exhaust, causing distress among local residents. This action sparked anger among members of the public who misunderstood the situation and linked it to the issue of motorcycle seizure, leading to brief physical friction when A arrived at the village hall to provide clarification.
AKP Toyib emphasized that no criminal elements were found in the handover of the motorcycle. The dispute regarding A's behavior on the public road was also resolved peacefully through deliberation involving community leaders and family members.
The police urge the public to be wiser in filtering information on social media and not easily provoked by unverified narratives. The public is requested to immediately report any suspected criminal acts to the authorities so that handling is carried out based on valid legal facts.
