Civilian security member accused of molesting minor

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court opened on Wednesday a hearing concerning a civilian security member who allegedly forced a nine-year-old girl to perform oral sex last September.

"Defendant Romin bin Jaya Kusuma has violated article 290 of the Criminal Code," said prosecutor Ramdhanu Dwiyantono in a hearing presided over by judge Hupojo.

The article carries a maximum 12-year jail sentence.

Ramdhanu said the 49-year-old defendant, who lives in the Kebon Kosong area, Kemayoran subdistrict, Central Jakarta, had asked the victim to join him to watch a cassava harvest in a nearby field.

"The victim agreed to the defendant's invitation," he said.

"But on their way there, the defendant took the under-age victim into an empty bathroom in one of the apartments of the nearby Dakota multistory housing complex.

"The defendant then forced the girl to enter the bathroom, and started to kiss and hug the victim."

Ramdhanu said the defendant, who is also a member of a civilain security unit supervised by the Kemayoran military subdistrict, then opened his trousers and forced the victim to suck his penis.

The prosecutor said that the victim was afraid of being hit by the defendant and carried out the act.

He said that the defendant then bought several guavas for the girl to stop her crying.

The girl's mother, Mrs. Bambang S., said on Wednesday before the hearing that she knew the defendant's family very well.

"The defendant's house is located behind the girl's house.

"He often even borrowed my phone," she said.

"My daughter cried later in the evening, saying that she had been forced to suck the defendant's penis."

She said she attempted to verify the matter with the defendant, but that he had denied the action, saying "it was merely a child's statement".

"But Romin then admitted to his wrongdoing in front of the police," she said.

Judge Hupojo adjourned the hearing until Wednesday to hear the witnesses' testimonies. (asa)