DPR Member Demands Maximum Sentence for Woman's Captor in Bandung

Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Abdullah, has urged the police to immediately arrest and prosecute TH, a man allegedly involved in the kidnapping, confinement, and torture of YTR for three years in Bandung, West Java.

According to him, TH should be charged with multiple layers of criminal offences given the extreme suffering endured by the victim. As of now, the perpetrator is believed to still be at large, and the police are actively pursuing him.

“Law enforcement must be carried out to the fullest extent to ensure justice for the victim and to serve as a deterrent for the perpetrator,” Abdullah stated in a briefing in Jakarta on Sunday, 21 June 2026.

Based on police reports, the victim is believed to have suffered various forms of violence resulting in serious head injuries, severe visual impairment, wounds from sharp objects, burn marks, and damage to the lips.

He assessed that the victim’s ordeal likely began with the practice of coercive control, a pattern of dominance over a partner that progresses gradually until the victim loses their independence and freedom.

According to Abdullah, perpetrators typically begin by isolating the victim from their social environment, excessively monitoring communications, and employing intimidation, threats, and physical violence to create economic dependency.

Consequently, he reminded women to increase their vigilance if a partner begins to exhibit excessive controlling behaviour.

“If symptoms such as these begin to appear, seek help immediately, break contact, and report to your family and law enforcement authorities,” said Abdullah.

He also urged the public and families who are aware of or suspect violence against women to report it to the police immediately so that intervention can be carried out more swiftly.

“This case demonstrates that violence against women does not always begin with physical battery, but often starts with excessive control, social isolation, and psychological manipulation,” he added.

Previously, the West Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Human Rights (Kemenham) coordinated with various parties, including the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) under the West Java Provincial Office for Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning (DP3AKB), to seek funding for the victim’s medical care through the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

In addition to ensuring the victim’s rights are upheld, Kemenham West Java is also pushing for legal proceedings in accordance with applicable regulations and is calling on the community to increase vigilance against the potential for violence in their surroundings.