AKP Siti's Approach to Handling Cases of Violence Against Women and Children in Sigi

The Head of Criminal Investigation at Sigi Police Resort, Central Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sulteng), AKP Siti Elminawati, prioritises a victim-centred perspective in handling cases involving women and children. AKP Siti has previously uncovered cases of child rape by 11 individuals in Parigi Moutong and child trafficking cases.

AKP Siti is one of the candidates proposed by Palu resident Dewi Rana. Here are the reasons for the nomination as stated by Dewi:

As a female police officer whose service has largely been in the field of Women and Children Services, AKP Siti Elminawati is known as an officer with high dedication, professionalism, and orientation towards humanitarian values.

In carrying out her duties, she consistently places the protection of women and children as the top priority, especially for victims of violence both in family and community settings. AKP Siti Elminawati is also recognised as a humane, responsive, and consistent figure in providing assistance to victims, so her presence fosters a sense of security and trust in the police institution among the public.

Dewi Rana got to know AKP Siti while providing assistance to victims. Dewi Rana is the Executive Director of Libu Perempuan Sulteng.

“When she was still at Polda Sulteng. At that time, it was a case of violence against a child, during one process we met,” said Dewi to detikcom on Thursday (12/3/2026).

Dewi revealed AKP Siti’s track record when she was serving in the PPA unit at Polda Sulteng, as Head of Mantikulore Police Sector, and currently as Head of Criminal Investigation at Sigi Police Resort. In addition to handling cases maximally, AKP Siti is said to also carry out prevention efforts.

“That’s why I nominated her; first, I see the approach she uses, especially for cases related to women and children, quite employs a victim perspective,” she said.

Dewi brought up a case of theft by a child handled by AKP Siti several years ago. She said AKP Siti highly prioritised child rights.

“At that time, it was a theft case; the child was the son of… his mother worked in that house, for the employer. She stole perfume that was said to be expensive, and actually, she took it for school fees or something, that happened 6 years ago,” said Dewi Rana.

AKP Siti then mediated between both parties. This case, according to Dewi, was handled by prioritising child rights.

“Mrs Siti then used a child protection perspective. Until she visited, she said ‘if I were in that position, I would take advantage,’ so there was a path used outside formal procedures, an approach as a mother and as a woman,” she said.

In addition to case resolution, AKP Siti also pays attention to the humanitarian side. Even AKP Siti provided transportation costs for victims.

“In some cases, they also didn’t have a budget to go home even though the case was quite far, from Parigi, from the district, Mrs Siti even helped with transportation costs. She also showed the humanitarian side for repatriation,” said Dewi.

Serving in Women-Children Protection

AKP Siti was previously nominated for the Hoegeng Corner 2025 programme. AKP Siti has been involved in the field of women and children protection since 2000. Various cases have been handled by AKP Siti.

Siti has been in the PPA unit since early 2000. Various cases have been handled by her, from women and children who are victims of sexual harassment to victims of human trafficking crimes or TPPO.

“When I was at Polda, I once handled a TPPO case of a 1-year-old child sold in Palu for 12.5 million, alhamdulillah we secured the victim and then the perpetrator we took from Bangka Belitung. After that, we collaborated with cross-sectoral UPTD PPA Bangka Belitung and Polda Sulteng, regarding special handling for children,” said AKP Siti in the Hoegeng Corner 2025 programme.

The child was allegedly sold by his mother through social media. This case came to light when AKP Siti received information that there was child TPPO in Sulteng sold to Bangka Belitung.

“We have a network, my phone is 24/7, so when there is an issue, because I am a female officer, at that time I reported to the leadership, ‘Sir, please permit, this is like this,’ then investigate first, team up with the IT team, we found that the victim was indeed picked up at the airport by person A, then I analysed and it turned out to be a cyber network,” she explained.

AKP Siti and the team at that time successfully rescued the victim. Four perpetrators were also secured and faced legal proceedings.

“The child was returned to his father, because his mother was the one who sold him; there were economic issues so the husband was seeking livelihood and the mother couldn’t provide for the child, so she sold the child through Facebook,” she clarified.

Not stopping there, AKP Siti developed the case further. From the same network, a baby was found about to be sold in Jakarta.

“Alhamdulillah we uncovered the network again, we found a 7-day-old baby, because the location was in Jakarta we collaborated with National Police Headquarters,” she explained.

Another case that caught AKP Siti’s attention was a TPPO case of a child from Sulteng in East Seram (SBT), Maluku. The victim was involved in underage prostitution.

“We also once secured a TPPO victim from Sulteng who was sold in SBT, Maluku. The challenge in securing the child, usually the victim gets upset. When I secured from SBT Maluku, the victim even said to me ‘Ma’am, if I have no money, will you give me money? I work like this to support my family,’ that’s not the first time, when I was in Tarakan it was the same,” she said.

AKP Siti also once served as Head of Mantikulore Police Sector, Palu. She successfully rescued a newborn baby that was abandoned in the city park.

“I rescued a newborn child abandoned in the Palu city forest who was just born because the placenta was still attached, and already bitten by ants. Alhamdulillah, we quickly secured it, we took it to the