Medan. A woman brandished a machete inside a mobile phone store in Medan and briefly held a female employee hostage after failing to receive an iPhone she believed she had purchased for Rp 10 million ($583.5).

The incident ended without injuries after store security personnel and other employees intervened.

Police later identified the suspect as AP, 28, who had allegedly fallen victim to an online scam that used the store’s name to advertise discounted iPhones on the internet.

The attack took place at PS Store on Jalan Sisingamangaraja in the morning of April 17. Footage recorded by visitors at a nearby store later circulated widely on social media.

In the video, AP was seen gripping the employee by the neck with her left hand while holding a machete in her right hand.

Medan Police Chief Commissioner Feriawan said on Sunday that the suspect had been detained and was undergoing questioning.

According to police, AP was lured by a social media offer advertising an iPhone 13 for only Rp 2 million. After making an initial payment, she was repeatedly asked to transfer additional funds for supposed administrative fees and email activation charges linked to the transaction.

In total, she transferred Rp 10 million to the scammers but never received the phone.

“After the total transfers reached Rp 10 million and the item never arrived, the suspect threatened to come to the store directly if the iPhone was not delivered immediately,” Feriawan said.

Police said the threat was later carried out when AP went to PS Store and immediately seized one of the employees.

Feriawan added that AP was also emotionally distressed after her motorcycle had previously been stolen.

“The cheap iPhone promotion was purely a scam that misused the store’s name,” he said.

AP has been charged with making threats involving violence, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of four years.

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