Indonesians tap private eyes for evidence of affairs as dating apps drive more ‘hook-ups’
- Between 2020 and 2021, the number of divorces in Indonesia increased by 54 per cent, with half stemming from incompatibility or adultery
- Evidence of a philandering husband could be a form of ‘self-empowerment’ for Indonesian women, a psychologist says
Habibi is a man who blends in well anywhere, be it at a busy shopping centre or a five-star hotel. A modest and inconspicuous appearance is important for the private investigator who specialises in “perselingkuhan”, a term encompassing both marital adultery and relationship infidelity.
There aren’t too many sleuths in Indonesia, but the 30-year-old said he had finally found his niche in the business after almost 10 years.
“I had an ordinary day job when I first moonlighted as a detective back in 2014,” he said. “The first few years were tough in terms of securing clients, but I can now do this full-time.”
His fieldwork often requires him to travel. He was speaking to This Week In Asia from Lampung, some 345km away from Jakarta, while on a stakeout.
“We typically work in a team of three. Most of it is surveillance of our target, including taking photos or video recordings, which we then pass on to our clients,” he said.
Habibi claimed about eight in 10 of his clientele were women, and 90 per cent of his cases involved finding proof of spousal adultery to be used in divorce proceedings.