Café in Gianyar Employs 9 Children as LCs, 2 Suspects Charged with TPPO

Police have uncovered an alleged case of child exploitation at a café in Desa Ketewel, Sukawati District, Gianyar Regency, Bali. In the case, nine girls aged 13 to 17 were found by police and are suspected of being employed as song guides or ladies companions (LCs). Gianyar Police Chief AKBP Chandra Kesuma stated that examinations of the two suspects who employed the children revealed they admitted to hiring them without checking their ages. “We have arrested the suspects and seized evidence,” he said. He explained that the underage girls were suspected of being employed to serve guests at the café. “The children were employed to serve guests as song guides, delivering drinks, accompanying visitors for karaoke, and consuming alcoholic beverages,” said AKBP Chandra during a press conference at Gianyar Police Headquarters on Thursday (30/4). The case was uncovered following a public report about a nightlife venue employing minors. “From the investigation, nine girls working as song guides were found,” he added. The two suspects designated are a man with initials IWB, the café owner, and a woman with initials NIWAN, who acted as the “mami” or worker manager. The nine employed children have initials DSA (15), MA (14), DR (17), SAW (17), SM (14), LTS (14), AP (16), APA (13), and RNP (13). They were employed at the café on Jalan Bypass Ida Bagus Mantra since July 2025. The wage system applied is based on drink sales, with payment of around Rp25,000 per bottle, such as red wine and beer. From this, the children averaged up to around Rp3 million per month. The two suspects are charged under Article 2 of Law No. 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO). The maximum penalty is 15 years imprisonment.