12 Suspects Arrested in Bekasi for Child Sexual Exploitation, Earning Rp 1.7 Billion

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have named 12 suspects in a case involving the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children at several cafes in Cibitung, Bekasi Regency, West Java. The suspects are accused of collectively generating profits of up to Rp 1.7 billion from the illicit business. “Based on the results of the investigation, we obtained facts that the suspects allegedly collaborated in recruiting, placing, and employing victims, thereby obtaining economic benefits of approximately Rp 1.7 billion over a period of roughly three years,” said the Director of the General Criminal Investigation Directorate at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Senior Commissioner Rita Wulandari Wibowo, during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. Police revealed that the victims were forced to work as companions for male guests and as commercial sex workers within the localised area. “The modus operandi in this case involved the perpetrators exploiting children by making them serve as companions for male guests at several cafes. We have identified four cafes within the localised area where the practice of child exploitation was found,” she added. Rita explained that the victims were required to accompany guests, sing, and consume alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, the victims were forced to engage in sexual intercourse with the guests. For a single service, guests were charged a rate ranging from Rp 200,000 to Rp 250,000, a portion of which was taken by the suspects. Police have examined 17 witnesses and identified 37 victims, who have undergone urine tests. The 12 suspects played various roles, including pimps, cashiers, and marketing staff for the cafes. The suspects are charged under Article 76I in conjunction with Article 88 of the Child Protection Law, as well as Article 12 in conjunction with Article 15 of the Sexual Violence Crime Law, facing a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.