Oey Tamba Sia

Oey Tamba Sia (1827 – October 7, 1856), also spelt Oey Tambah Sia, or often mistakenly Oey Tambahsia, was a rich, Chinese-Indonesian playboy hanged by the Dutch colonial government due to his involvement in a number of murder cases in Batavia (now Jakarta), capital of colonial Indonesia. His life has become part of Jakarta folklore, and inspired a series of literary works.

Born in 1827, Oey was the son of Oey Thoa, a tycoon and tobacco magnate, originally from Pekalongan, who had been appointed Luitenant der Chinezen of Kongsi Besar in Batavia. This was a civil government position in the colonial bureaucracy with legal and political jurisdiction over the local Chinese community. As the son of a Chinese officer, Oey Tamba held the hereditary title of Sia.

At just 15 years old, he lost his father, Luitenant Oey Thoa, who died and passed down to his children an inheritance that supposedly amounted to 2 million guilders. According to folklore, Oey Tamba Sia was handsome and gallant, but was proud and fond of changing partners. This attitude worsened when he received a large inheritance after the death of his father. He did not respect the Chinese magistrates in Batavia because many were supported financially by his late father, including a friend of his late father Tan Eng Goan, 1st Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia. However, Majoor Tan Eng Goan and other officials were trying to give advice to Oey Tamba Sia to repent. Even the Majoor offered Oey Tamba Sia the post of Luitenant der Chinezen held by his father. However Oey Tamba Sia rejected both the advice and offer of the lieutenancy from the Chinese officials.

The behaviour of Oey Tamba Sia ended in crimes in which he ordered the killing of Sutedjo, brother of his mistress Mas Adjeng Gundjing whom he thought was her lover. Oey Tamba Sia poisoned even his own loyal aides Tjeng Kie to malign his rival Lim Soe Keng Sia, son-in-law of Majoor Tan Eng Goan. The Chinese Council led by the Majoor investigated the Oey Tamba Sia's actions, and reported him back to the Landraad (criminal court). Oey Tamba Sia was sentenced to death by public hanging. Oey's family attempted an appeal to the Raad van Justitie (high court) and for clemency from the Governor-General, both of which were rejected.

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