Cruel YouTuber jailed after handing out rotting vegetables to trans people in sick prank – and now he’s getting bullied behind bars
(L) Two trans women were handed instant noodle boxes by a YouTuber in Indonesia. Inside them were rotting vegetables and stones. (R) Ferdian Pelaka issues a fake apology video after backlash. (Screen capture via YouTube)
Indonesian YouTuber Ferdian Paleka has been jailed after a sick prank that saw him hand out fake aid packages full of rotting trash to transgender people – and it appears that he is now being bullied himself behind bars.
The YouTube ‘prankster’ horrified viewers earlier this month with the transphobic prank, which saw him give out “aid packages” he claimed were filled with food to two transgender women.
When the women opened the boxes, all they found were rotting vegetables and stones.
The video was later pulled down by YouTube for violating its policies on bullying, but an unrepentant Paleka doubled down on its contents by issuing a ‘joke’ apology, in which he said: “I personally would like to apologise for what I’ve done… not.”
But the prank has backfired spectacularly for the YouTuber – who was arrested by West Java police last week alongside two accomplices for breaching the country’s information and electronic transactions law.
The crime comes with a maximum possible sentence of 12 years behind bars.
Indonesian YouTuber Ferdian Paleka is being bullied in jail.
According to The Jakarta Post, a video has now surfaced from inside the Bandung jail where the YouTuber is being held – which appears to show him being bullied by other detainees.
In the clip, which is believed to have been filmed on a contraband mobile phone, Paleka is made to do push-ups in his underwear and say “I am stupid” repeatedly, according to the newspaper.
While some may get amusement from the thought of Paleka getting a taste of his own medicine, authorities have made clear that any abuse behind bars is not acceptable.
Two trans women were handed instant noodle boxes by a YouTuber in Indonesia. Inside them were rotting vegetables and stones. (Screen capture via YouTube)
Poengky Indarti of Indonesia’s National Police Commission made clear: “Even though [Paleka and his friends] insulted the dignity of others with their prank, there should be no retaliation against them inside the jail.”
Institute of Criminal Justice Reform executive director Erasmus Napitupulu told The Jakarta Post: “Torture and degrading and inhumane acts toward anyone, including suspects, is against both national law and international law.
“In dealing with discriminatory acts against minorities, the main focus should be returning the dignity of the victims and compensating the loss suffered by the victims.”
Victims of YouTuber’s sick prank said it left them feeling ‘hurt and humiliated’.
The victims of Paleka’s prank video previously spoke out about how degraded it made them feel.
One victim, Dini, said:”I’’m just struggling to put food on my table. That’s why I was initially happy [about getting the box], it turned out it was an insult.
“We were] treated like trash. We hoped to get noodles but it turned out they were [a brick and garbage]. I feel hurt and humiliated.”
The other victim, Sani, said she had decided to report the incident to police “to create a deterrent effect for the perpetrator so that such things will not occur again in the future.”
