Holiday Ayo - 

A 74-year-old man named Mbah Tarman has become the center of public attention after his marriage to a young woman from Pacitan turned into a shocking scandal. The elderly groom reportedly fled after being exposed for giving a fake check worth Rp 3 billion (around $190,000) as the dowry.

Tarman had married Sheila, a 24-year-old woman, in what initially appeared to be a lavish ceremony that drew widespread attention due to the enormous dowry he promised. However, the happiness was short-lived — the check given as the dowry bounced at the bank and was confirmed to be fake less than 24 hours after the wedding ceremony.

“Once it was discovered, he ran away, taking the host’s motorcycle,” said one of Sheila’s family members on Friday (October 10, 2025).

In addition to stealing the motorcycle, Tarman reportedly left behind two cars — a Toyota Camry and an Avanza — which were later revealed to be rental vehicles, not his own.

“He left the cars behind. Both the Camry and the Avanza were rentals,” the source added.

Sheila’s family also clarified that they bore all the wedding expenses, contrary to Tarman’s earlier claims. “Who paid for the wedding? The host did,” the family member emphasized.

Sheila is now said to be emotionally devastated, struggling to come to terms with the humiliating incident. The young bride is reportedly heartbroken as her marriage collapsed within mere hours after it began.