Delinquent since he was a little boy, Tjonat runs away to Batavia (Jakarta) after murdering his friend. In the city, he becomes a servant working for a Dutch family. But all he does is swindle the mistress' wealth. Then he turns into a robber and falls in love with Lie Gouw Nio. When she rejects him, Tjonat tries to kidnap her. But the attempt is stopped by the brave and handsome Thio Sing Sang.

Pitoeng is the original Batavian champion whose popularity draws from lenong folk performances. People believe that the Rawabelong champion has the ability to “disappear” because he always manages to escape the pursuit of Dutch police. He is perceived as the local version of Robin Hood: who only robs the rich to give to the poor.