Bengkulu Judge Claims Identity Used by Little Aresha Foundation: ID Card Was Lent

Rafid Ihsan Lubis, a judge at the Tais District Court in Seluma Regency, Bengkulu, has claimed his name was misappropriated and included in the management structure of the foundation overseeing Daycare Little Aresha. Rafid explained that his identity was used after his national ID card (KTP) was borrowed by the foundation’s chairperson, identified by the initials DK, back in 2020. DK, along with 12 other individuals, has been named a suspect in the alleged child abuse and neglect case at Daycare Little Aresha. Rafid also stated he had no knowledge of the reason or purpose for which DK borrowed his ID card at the time, let alone being involved in the foundation’s establishment process. “I did lend my KTP, but afterwards I had no knowledge of how positions were determined or the establishment process. From the very beginning, I never signed anything or granted power of attorney to appear before a notary,” Rafid said while complying with a summons for questioning at the Yogyakarta City Police headquarters on Saturday (13/6). “And I also never received any benefit in any form,” he added. Rafid’s legal counsel, Dicke Muhdi, added that the ID card was lent when his client was still a university student and was lodging at DK’s house. He stressed that his client has no blood relation to DK. “In 2020, our client happened to be experiencing financial difficulties, so he was forced to lodge at DK’s house,” Dicke said. According to Dicke, his client felt awkward and unable to refuse to lend his ID card because he was good friends with DK’s child. “So it was uncomfortable (not to lend the KTP),” Dicke added. The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Yogyakarta City Police, Commissioner Riski Adrian, stated that the questioning of Rafid is a follow-up to the development of the investigation into the alleged abuse and neglect case at Daycare Little Aresha. Police had previously also taken a statement from Gadjah Mada University lecturer Cahyaningrum Dewojati, whose name was also misappropriated as an advisor to the foundation.