TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The Yogyakarta Police have arrested a man strongly suspected of setting fire to three train carriages at Tugu Station in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

"We have arrested the suspect, identified as M, a 17-year-old resident of Jakarta. The suspect also has sensory disabilities and difficulty speaking," said Director of General Criminal Investigation of the Yogyakarta Police, Sr. Comr. FX Endriadi, on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Endriadi reported that the suspect was detained in the Malioboro Street area, near Tugu Station, shortly after the train carriage fire incident. "Based on CCTV footage around the incident location and forensic laboratory examinations, we identified M as the perpetrator," he explained. Upon arrest, the 17-year-old confessed to his actions.

The suspect revealed to the police that his motive stemmed from resentment towards state-owned railway operator PT KAI for prior sanctions imposed on him as a passenger. "Between 2023 and 2024, the suspect was caught violating train regulations and was forcibly removed from trains by PT KAI officers," Endriadi said, without specifying the exact nature of the violations.

However, according to the information received by the police, the suspect had been caught several times riding the train without a ticket.

Police investigations revealed that the suspect ignited the carriages by setting fire to a piece of cardboard. He then entered the carriages and used the burning cardboard to set fire to the interior of each carriage.

As a result of the suspect's actions, three passenger carriages parked in the Tugu Station emplacement area were damaged by fire.

Due to the suspect's sensory disabilities, police enlisted the assistance of a sign language interpreter during the interrogation. "We will also conduct a mental health examination of the suspect to assess his mental state leading up to the arson," Endriadi added. The psychiatric evaluation will involve a mental health expert and a behavioral survey for two weeks.

The suspect faces charges under Article 180 of Law No. 23 of 2007 concerning Railways, in conjunction with Article 197 paragraph (1), or Article 187 of the Criminal Code, or Article 188 of the Criminal Code, or Article 406 of the Criminal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison.

Previously, Public Relations Manager of PT KAI Daop (regional operation) 6 Yogyakarta, Feni Novida Saragih, stated that the fire did not disrupt train operations. The affected carriages were parked on a designated track used for stabling before reformation. "The location of these carriages is separate from the main train traffic, so there was no impact on operations," Feni clarified.

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