For a Laugh, Father in NTT Force-Feeds 11-Month-Old Baby Alcohol

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – A father identified by the initials JNK, alias Jitro, forced his 11-month-old baby to consume alcohol. The incident took place in South Central Timor (TTS), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). As reported by DetikBali, Jitro force-fed his 11-month-old child a local spirit known as sopi. When asked to confirm, the perpetrator said he did it just for a laugh. “JNK was carrying his child KIK, aged 11 months, while drinking sopi,” said the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of TTS Police, Adj. Comr. I Wayan Pasek Sujana, on Saturday (2/14). The act was recorded by JNK’s friend and subsequently went viral on social media, including Facebook and TikTok. Sujana confirmed that the act was done merely as a joke. “The video was recorded by his friend with the initials MT, alias Markus, at a boarding house belonging to MB, alias Melkisedek. At the time, Jitro was with two friends, MT and EN, alias Epy, who were drinking sopi,” he explained. The incident of forcing the baby to drink alcohol occurred on Wednesday (2/11) at around 7:00 a.m. local time. After the video went viral, the detective team along with the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) of the TTS Police Criminal Investigation Division moved to the perpetrator’s residence the same day, at around 3:00 p.m. local time. Jitro was then arrested at his home in Olais Village, Kuanfatu District, TTS, on Wednesday (2/11). Police arrested Jitro along with evidence including a glass and a bottle of alcohol, and took statements from several witnesses. Jitro confessed to his actions during police questioning. Sujana revealed that Jitro has not been detained as TTS Police investigators are still conducting a deeper examination of the case. Jitro is currently only required to report regularly to police.