A 19-year-old orphan in Indonesia died after allegedly being brutally assaulted by four friends over a missing pair of Crocs sandals worth around S$38.
The shocking incident has sparked outrage online, with many questioning how a dispute over footwear could escalate into a fatal attack.
According to Indonesian media reports, the victim, identified as Thomas Julianus Kristianto from Surabaya in East Java, had borrowed a pair of Crocs sandals from a friend in May.
However, the sandals were accidentally lost.
Guardian Had Already Paid Compensation
Following the loss, Thomas’s guardian reportedly attempted to resolve the matter by purchasing a replacement pair of imitation Crocs sandals for the owner.
In addition, the guardian also handed over approximately 300,000 Indonesian rupiah (about S$23) as compensation.
The family believed the issue had been settled.
However, the owner of the sandals allegedly remained unhappy, claiming the original pair was authentic Crocs footwear worth around 1.5 million rupiah (approximately S$115).
The disagreement reportedly continued despite the compensation being paid.
Lured To Secluded Area Before Attack
On the night of May 30, Thomas reportedly left home intending to buy a drink from a nearby shop.
Instead, he was allegedly persuaded by friends to follow them to a secluded location.
Once there, he was allegedly attacked by four teenagers.
The assault was so severe that Thomas lost consciousness.
According to reports, the suspects only realised the seriousness of the situation after seeing his condition deteriorate.
Victim Suffered Skull Fracture And Brain Swelling
The four suspects initially attempted to transport Thomas to a nearby clinic using a motorcycle.
However, as his condition worsened, they allegedly abandoned him in a commercial area instead.
Members of the public later found the teenager and rushed him to hospital.
Doctors diagnosed him with a fractured skull and severe brain swelling.
His organs gradually began failing over the following days.
Despite medical efforts to save him, Thomas succumbed to his injuries on June 4.
Four Teenagers Arrested
The case has sent shockwaves across Indonesia, with many expressing disbelief that a disagreement over a pair of sandals ended in a young man’s death.
Police have since arrested all four suspects on suspicion of murder.
Investigations are ongoing.
The tragedy has also drawn attention to the dangers of youth violence and how seemingly minor disputes can spiral into devastating consequences.
For Thomas, who had already lost his parents and was being raised by a guardian, a disagreement over a missing pair of shoes ultimately cost him his life.