Father recounts how entrusting his toddler to his aunt and uncle in Surabaya led to abuse

A four-year-old child, KRN, in Lakarsantri, Surabaya, was abused by his aunt and uncle for the past two months, to the point of having his hair shaved off and being fed cat food. The victim’s father, Dandi Pratama Putra, recounted how he initially entrusted his child to the perpetrators.

Dandi stated that since his divorce, KRN had been living with his mother in Tambak Asri, Surabaya. However, in October 2025, his sister, Sellyna Adika Wahyuni, asked for permission to care for KRN, wanting him to be a companion in her boarding house as she and her husband did not yet have children.

“She (Sellyna) said, ‘Can I look after KRN? He can be a friend in the boarding house. Because I don’t have any children yet,’” Dandi said, as reported by detikJatim on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Because the perpetrator was his younger sister, Dandi did not suspect anything. Dandi mentioned that he often contacted KRN via telephone. However, in December, the perpetrators always refused when Dandi wanted to video call with his child, claiming that the child was playing.

“For the two months before the child was rescued by residents, whenever I video called, they rarely answered. Sometimes my sister would answer but wouldn’t show KRN. She would say he was with her husband, or that he was playing with the neighbours,” he explained.

Dandi’s intention to visit his sister’s boarding house was thwarted due to a lack of transportation, and he could only send money for the child’s allowance. Dandi requests that both perpetrators be severely punished for abusing his only child, who is now suffering from severe trauma.