Iranian Tourist Wrongly Accused of Hypnotism in Limpung Market

A foreign tourist from Iran became the target of angry residents at Limpung Market, Batang Regency, on Thursday afternoon (June 26, 2025). The man was accused of hypnotizing a store cashier during a transaction, sparking panic and mob violence. However, a police investigation later disproved the accusation, revealing that the incident was merely a misunderstanding caused by language barriers.

Batang Police Chief AKBP Edi Rahmat Mulyana, through Batang Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Imam Muhtadi, explained that the man, referred to as Ali (not his real name), was an Iranian tourist vacationing in Central Java with his family. They had just come from Bali and were traveling by car from Jakarta to Semarang.

Along the way, Ali's wife asked him to stop in Limpung Market to buy tissues. At a small shop, Ali took out a 100,000 rupiah bill to pay. Problems arose when Ali requested change in smaller denominations. Due to communication barriers and language differences, a misunderstanding erupted between Ali and the cashier.

Ali pointed to the cashier’s drawer, intending to request small change. But the cashier grew suspicious, especially since the area had seen a similar hypnotism scam years ago. The store atmosphere grew tense, and passersby, hearing the commotion, quickly assumed Ali was trying to hypnotize the cashier.

A crowd soon gathered, and chaos broke out. Fueled by past trauma and rumors, some residents assaulted Ali. Police arrived swiftly, calmed the crowd, and took Ali into custody to clarify the situation.

After questioning, police confirmed there was no hypnotism involved. The chaos stemmed entirely from a misunderstanding and the community's lingering fear of past scams. Police urged residents not to be provoked by rumors or resort to vigilantism.

Authorities continue to reassure residents and work toward preventing similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, Ali and his family have resumed their journey with police escort to ensure their safety and peace of mind.