13 Defendants in Daycare Child Abuse Case in Yogyakarta Face First Hearing

Thirteen defendants in the child abuse case at Little Aresha Daycare in Yogyakarta have undergone their first hearing. They consist of the foundation chairman, the head teacher, and eleven caregivers.

The hearing was held at the Yogyakarta District Court on Tuesday (18/8/2026). The proceedings were conducted under three separate indictments.

The eleven caregivers faced trial first. They are charged with torturing the infants and children entrusted to the daycare.

The children suffered mistreatment, including being tied up, placed in unsuitable rooms, and in some cases having their heads submerged in water.

For these cruel acts, they are charged with violating several articles of the Child Protection Law simultaneously.

However, it emerged that these acts were carried out on the direct orders of the foundation chairman and the head teacher, who are being tried separately. Both individuals issued the orders and even exercised control to ensure the caregivers carried them out.

The head teacher and the foundation chairman are charged under the same articles as the caregivers. Prosecutors have also applied additional laws to the two of them, namely the Law on the National Education System and the Law on Consumer Protection.

Read more in the infographic above.