The acting head of Jakarta’s Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Gumilar Ekalaya, was stabbed by a former employee at his office yesterday afternoon in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta.
The stabbing occurred on the office’s second floor and was recorded by a CCTV camera. Jakarta Vice Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said that the suspect was a former contract employee at the agency. The man, identified by his initials RH, had worked as a security guard until his contract expired.
“The person concerned came to meet Gumilar in order to ask for the extension of his work contract as a security guard. However, due to budget savings, he was not up for re-hire,” the vice governor, who is popularly known by his nickname Ariza, said.
A short clip of the CCTV recording showed Gumilar talking with RH on the sofa with one person sitting between them. After quite some time, RH stood up, followed by Gumilar. RH then reached inside his bag before taking out a knife.
Gumilar attempted to dodge the attack, but RH kept moving close to him and proceeded to stab him in the thigh. The people sitting near them ran towards Gumilar to prevent more attacks as RH fled the scene by going down the stairs.
“Pak Gumilar was stabbed in the thigh. He was brought to a hospital and he got three stitches. He has returned home now,” Ariza said.
A security guard who caught RH downstairs became the second victim of his stabbing.
“The security guard saw the suspect carrying a knife and tried to block his way but the suspect stabbed him,” South Jakarta Police Chief Azis Andriansyah said, adding that he was stabbed in the upper left chest.
Azis said other security guards managed to catch RH and contacted the police, who then apprehended him and confiscated the knife as evidence. RH is currently being questioned at the South Jakarta Police HQ, as police question witnesses in the ongoing investigation.
