Father accused of sexual abuse

JAKARTA (JP): A woman reported to police on Monday that her husband had allegedly sexually abused their eight-year-old adopted daughter for the last few months and demanded that he be arrested.

Halimah, 30, told reporters at the police station that she was not aware of the situation until Monday morning when her daughter complained she had burning pains in her stomach and vagina, especially when she urinated.

The child then confessed that she was raped last July and had since been sexually abused by Ujang Kosasih. Halimah said the child had kept silent because, Ujang, 40, threatened to kill her if she told her mother.

Halimah also told police how her husband often beat her and their three children. Ujang is currently jobless but sometimes takes scavenging jobs to support the family, she said, adding that she did not report her husband's mistreatment to police because she was afraid of him.

She explained that she took her daughter to a community health center in Central Jakarta for an examination and that she was very surprised when health officials informed her that there was evidence the child was sexually abused.

"What he has done to our daughter is outrageous. I can't stand his brutal behavior any longer, so I went straight to the police," Halimah said.

The girl said her adopted father often undressed her and had his way whenever her mother was away doing a side job.

Police said they would question Ujang over the allegations of sexual abuse and would wait for an official report from the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital where the girl underwent a medical examination. (06)