Distress of Children at Aresha Daycare: Bruises to Being Locked in the Bathroom
Little Aresha Daycare, located in Sorosutan, Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta City, went viral after being raided by police. The raid occurred due to suspicions of abuse against the toddlers entrusted to the facility.
One parent of a toddler, Aldewa (30), from Mergangsan, Yogyakarta City, said her three-year-old child had been placed at the daycare for more than six months. She revealed that bruises were spotted on her child’s right knee about a week ago.
“There were bruises on the right knee. At the time, I thought it was from falling or being pushed by a friend,” Aldewa said when met in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta City, on Saturday (25/4), quoted from detikJogja.
Additionally, Aldewa said her child often cried every time they were about to head to the daycare. However, she initially considered it normal for a three-year-old.
“In the morning when leaving, they always cry. I thought it was normal; young children sometimes get scared or don’t want to go to school yet,” she said.
Regarding the viral abuse allegations, Aldewa admitted difficulty in confirming the actual situation because her child could not yet speak clearly. Nevertheless, she hopes the suspected abuse case will be thoroughly investigated. She also demands that those proven to have committed violence be prosecuted.
“If I ask if they were hit or not, they say no. But on social media, it’s buzzing that the children were indoctrinated not to say anything,” she said.
“If someone did it, they must be punished. But I believe not everyone is bad,” she added.
Meanwhile, Sri (63), a resident of Kotagede, said her four-year-old grandchild was once locked in the bathroom by a caregiver.
“Then they (the grandchild) said they were put in the bathroom and locked in. ‘I wasn’t allowed to play, not allowed to play. Then I was locked in the bathroom’,” she revealed.
Sri also once saw her grandchild’s cheek red when picking them up. However, she said she did not know the exact cause because the grandchild was reluctant to elaborate.
“Oh, not injured, just red (on the cheek). Even when asked, they wouldn’t answer,” she said.
Sri said her grandchild had been placed at the daycare for about a year, from morning to evening. All this time, she had no suspicions because the caregivers seemed friendly when meeting in person.
“When meeting, they are very kind, nothing seems off. But I’m really angry if that’s true. How could my grandchild be treated like that,” she emphasised.
Previously, police raided the daycare in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta City, over suspicions of abuse against the children entrusted there. Police set up a perimeter at the site and are examining related parties.
The Head of Criminal Investigation at Yogyakarta Police Resort, Commissioner Riski Adrian, confirmed the raid.
“It’s true, the Criminal Investigation Unit of Yogyakarta Police Resort conducted a raid on a childcare facility in the Umbulharjo area yesterday (Friday) afternoon,” Adrian said when contacted by reporters on Saturday (25/4/2026).
Adrian stated that they suspect certain daycare managers committed acts of abuse against the entrusted children. The case is currently under investigation.
“Strong suspicions of committing criminal acts by treating children discriminatorily or placing, allowing, involving, or ordering the involvement of children in wrongful treatment, neglect, or violence against children,” he said.