Christopher Farrel Millenio Kusuma, former CEO and co-founder of the startup Kecilin, has been reported missing since February 9, 2025. He was last seen at Pandan Payung Beach, Kretek, Bantul, Yogyakarta, where his personal belongings, including a wallet, phone, black clothes, and eight handwritten letters to his family, were found neatly placed in a white plastic bag.

Farrel's disappearance comes amid ongoing legal issues. He was reported to the Sleman Police for alleged fraud or embezzlement under Article 378 and Article 372 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP). The report, filed on November 6, 2024, is currently under police investigation, according to Sleman Police spokesperson Iptu Salamun.

One of the victims, Anggoro, claimed he suffered a financial loss of Rp500 million due to Farrel’s actions. He explained that Farrel, whom he had known since 2018 through Yogyakarta's startup ecosystem, reconnected with him in March 2024. During their meeting, Farrel requested a Rp600 million loan, allegedly to complete a Rp13 billion government project.

Anggoro transferred almost Rp200 million through various methods—direct transfers, cash handovers, third-party accounts, and even crypto wallets. His suspicions grew around October 2024, when other victims began sharing similar experiences.

Farrel reportedly provided fake documents to secure loans, including a falsified cooperation agreement (PKS) with a government ministry and a forged land certificate, which was later revealed to belong to his grandmother.

Despite these allegations, Kecilin's Corporate Manager, Muhammad Farhan, emphasized that Farrel has had no involvement with the company since 2023. "Of course we are shocked and concerned about the disappearance of Christopher Farrel Millenio Kusuma, who was one of the founders and once served as the CEO of Kecilin," Farhan said on February 19, 2025.

Kecilin, known for its innovative data compression technology that reduces file sizes by up to 99% without sacrificing quality, has distanced itself from Farrel's personal legal matters.

As the police continue their investigation into both Farrel's disappearance and the fraud allegations, the startup community remains on edge, hoping for clarity in the coming days.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/@CHRISTOPHERFARREL

This article was created with AI assistance.