Indonesia Minister Yusril Mahendra Calls for Ban on Bounty Hunts for Begals

Coordinator Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra urged that no bounty contests be organised to capture begals (robbers). He warned that such contests could encourage people to act as "main hakim sendiri" (vigilantes) and risk wrongfully targeting innocent citizens, especially amid the current economic hardship.

Yusril addressed the proposal by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, who announced a multi‑million‑rupiah reward for the capture of begals. He said participants might arm themselves with machetes or clubs, saying, "Jika sayembara seperti itu dilakukan, orang akan siap pasang golok dan pentungan, dan yang bukan begal malah dipentung dianggap begal." Yusril advised the governor to refrain from launching such incentives because they could incite violence and misidentification.