FIB UGM Confirms Advisor to Little Aresha Daycare Foundation is Active Lecturer
The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta has responded to reports that one of its lecturers, Dr Cahyaningrum Dewojati, serves as an advisor to the Little Aresha Daycare Foundation. The daycare has come under spotlight due to a case of alleged child abuse.
In a written statement received by detikJogja on Thursday (30/4/2026), the Dean of FIB UGM, Prof Setiadi, stated that Cahyaningrum is an active lecturer at the faculty.
“We confirm that Dr Cahyaningrum Dewojati is an active teaching staff member at FIB UGM,” explained Setiadi.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that the campus has no legal relationship, cooperation, or operational involvement whatsoever with the Little Aresha Daycare Foundation. The university stated that Dr Cahyaningrum Dewojati is acting in her personal capacity.
Setiadi noted that the campus supports the law enforcement efforts being carried out by the Jogja Police Resort. FIB UGM is also monitoring public aspirations and inputs regarding Cahyaningrum’s status as a lecturer.
He stressed that FIB UGM does not provide institutional legal defence for actions outside the scope of official duties and academics.
“We are continuing to monitor the developments of this case closely. The faculty is coordinating with the university to take follow-up steps in accordance with the applicable employee discipline regulations at UGM,” said Setiadi.
“FIB UGM hopes that this legal process can proceed transparently, fairly, and provide legal certainty for all parties, especially in delivering justice for the victims. This case serves as an important reminder of the need for safe spaces for children. FIB UGM fully supports the creation of an inclusive social environment free from violence,” he added.
For information, 13 individuals have been designated as suspects and detained in connection with the alleged child abuse case at Daycare Little Aresha.
The Chief of Jogja Police Resort, Commissioner Eva Guna Pandia, stated that all 13 suspects are women. They are DK (51), AP (42), FN (30), NF (26), Lis (34), EN (26), SRm (54), DR (32), HP (47), ZA (30), SRj (50), DO (31), and DM (28).
“The first is DK, the Foundation Chair. The second is AP, the school head. The other eleven acted as caregivers,” explained Pandia during a press conference at the Jogja Police Resort Headquarters on Monday (27/4) afternoon.
The Head of Criminal Investigation at Jogja Police Resort, Commissioner Police Riski Adrian, added that the roles of DK and AP as foundation leaders were crucial. According to him, there were no written rules for the caregivers to commit the abuse, but DK and AP instructed it verbally.
“So, there are no written rules or procedures for that, but from the statements of the eleven caregiver suspects, they were ordered to do so by the Foundation Chair. However, it’s not in the SOP; it was conveyed verbally, directly by the Foundation Chair,” stated Adrian.
“The school head as well, because the Foundation Chair and School Head were always present every morning, and they directly witnessed the caregivers doing that to the children. So they knew and ordered it,” he continued.