Restaurant Owner Nabilah O’Brien Named Suspect in Alleged Food Theft and Defamation Case

Jakarta – Nabilah O’Brien, the owner of Bibi Kelinci Kopitiam in Kemang, South Jakarta, has been named a suspect in a defamation case following allegations of food theft at her restaurant in September 2025. The case has taken a complex turn, with both sides filing counter-accusations.

The Initial Incident

The incident began on September 19, 2025, at 11:00 PM, when a couple, identified by the initials ZK and ESR, entered Bibi Kelinci and ordered 14 food and drink items, according to Nabilah’s lawyer, Goldie Natasya Swarovski . The couple allegedly engaged in intimidating behavior, including entering the kitchen area, which is restricted to customers, and causing a disturbance .

Swarovski stated that the couple physically assaulted a head kitchen staff member, Abdul Hamid, hitting his right arm and damaging a chiller even as threatening to vandalize the restaurant . They then left the restaurant around midnight without paying . An attempt by a staff member to pursue them with an EDC machine was unsuccessful.

Social Media Post and Legal Fallout

Nabilah O’Brien subsequently uploaded CCTV footage of the incident to her social media account on September 20, 2025. The post garnered positive reactions, with other business owners expressing gratitude for the warning .

On September 24, Nabilah’s legal team sent a subpoena demanding a public apology from ZK and ESR, requesting they acknowledge their actions and apologize to the restaurant staff . A police report regarding the theft was filed on September 25 .

ZK and ESR responded with a counter-subpoena on September 27, admitting to taking the food and drinks but demanding Rp. 1 billion (approximately $63,000 USD) in damages, claiming they suffered losses due to Nabilah’s social media post .

Escalation and Suspect Status

On September 30, ZK and ESR reported Nabilah to the Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) for alleged violations of the ITE Law (Indonesia’s electronic information and transactions law), defamation, and slander . Mediation attempts on September 30 and November 17 failed to reach a resolution, as the couple continued to demand Rp. 1 billion in compensation .

On November 18, Nabilah’s team offered a peace agreement without financial conditions, withdrawing the reports to both the Sector Police and Bareskrim. This offer was rejected, as ZK and ESR still demanded an apology to the public and the couple’s family, as well as a retraction of the claims against them .

On February 24, 2026, ZK and ESR were named suspects in the theft case by the Mampang Prapatan Police . Just four days later, on February 28, 2026, Nabilah O’Brien was as well named a suspect in the defamation case, a development her lawyer deemed unusually swift .