Jakarta. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) said on Tuesday it will tighten oversight of debt collection practices, emphasizing that primary responsibility rests with creditors or lenders who appoint third-party collectors.

The statement follows a violent incident in Kalibata, South Jakarta, last week that left two debt collectors dead. The clash occurred on December 11 when an attempt to repossess a motorcycle was resisted by its owner, who was assisted by five others. The two collectors were seriously injured in the assault and later died.

Police have identified six suspects in the case, all of whom are low-ranking police officers.

OJK chairman Mahendra Siregar said procedures for debt collection and the repossession of collateral, such as vehicles, are already regulated under OJK Regulation No. 22 of 2023 on Consumer and Public Protection in the Financial Services Sector.

“From the consumer protection perspective, OJK has from the outset stipulated how debt collection should be conducted so that it does not violate existing provisions,” Mahendra said in Jakarta.

He stressed that lenders are not allowed to shift responsibility entirely to third parties such as debt collection teams, whose actions have frequently triggered public concern due to intimidation, forced repossessions, and, in some cases, violence.

OJK will review whether there are regulatory gaps or additional supervisory measures that need to be strengthened to prevent incidents like the one in Kalibata from happening again, Mahendra said.

If an incident involves third-party collectors, he added, creditors cannot evade legal responsibility.

Regarding the Kalibata case, Mahendra said the matter has entered the criminal justice process and is now under police authority, placing it outside OJK’s jurisdiction.

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