Christopher Farrel Millenio Kusuma, the CEO and founder of data compression startup Kecilin, has mysteriously disappeared at Pandan Payung Beach, Bantul, Yogyakarta. Police discovered several personal belongings believed to be his, including a phone, wallet, black clothing, and eight apology letters sealed in a plastic bag.

The items were found on February 9, 2025, and reported by a local shopkeeper to Kretek Police. Farrel’s family later confirmed that the belongings were his and stated that he had been unreachable for four days before they were discovered.

Police suspect that Farrel may have deliberately entered the ocean. “A witness mentioned that Farrel ordered a drink before walking toward the beach,” said Bantul Police spokesperson AKP I Nengah Jeffry Prana Widyana on Sunday, February 16, 2025. However, search and rescue teams have yet to find any trace of him.

Farrel was known for his innovation in the tech industry. Born on January 1, 2000, he gained recognition at the age of 17 when Google invited him to Mountain View, California, to present his research on data compression algorithms. At 18, he founded Kecilin, which later partnered with various companies to optimize storage and data transfer.

Before his disappearance, Farrel was reportedly facing legal issues. In November 2024, he was accused of investment fraud and reported to the Sleman Police. The case involved a Rp150 million loan that he allegedly promised to repay after completing a Rp13 billion government project. Since August 2024, he had been unreachable by the complainant, who eventually filed a police report.

Kecilin secured a pre-Series A funding round worth $40 million from investors such as Mandiri Capital Indonesia and BNI Ventures. The startup specializes in data compression technology, reducing file sizes by up to 99% without compromising quality.

Authorities are still investigating the circumstances behind Farrel’s disappearance. Whether it is linked to business pressure, legal troubles, or other factors remains unclear. The police urge anyone with relevant information to come forward.

SOURCE: KOMPAS.COM, TIRTO.ID

PHOTO: BASARNAS JOGJA/TRIBUNNEWS

This article was created with AI assistance.