Former Indonesian Idol Contestant Piche Kota Named Suspect in Alleged Rape of Schoolgirl
Singer and former Indonesian Idol contestant Petrus Yohannes Debrito Armando Jaga Kota, known as Piche Kota, has been named a suspect in an alleged rape case in Belu, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Piche was designated a suspect together with two associates, identified by the initials RM and RS.
Belu Police Chief AKBP I Gede Eka Putra Astawa confirmed the naming of Piche Kota and the other suspects.
“It is correct that investigators have named three suspects in the case of alleged rape/sexual intercourse with a minor or indecent acts against a minor,” Eka stated on Saturday (21 February 2026).
Eka said police had gathered evidence including documents, physical evidence and electronic evidence, and had conducted a medical examination of the victim through a visum et repertum. Police had also conducted a case review, during which it emerged that one of the three suspects, RM, had been uncooperative, failing to respond to investigators’ summons without valid reason.
“Investigators plan to carry out the arrest of RM. Meanwhile, suspects RS and PK will be summoned again for further examination,” Eka explained.
Piche Kota and his associates have been charged under Article 81(2) of Law No. 17 of 2016 on Child Protection, or Article 473(4) of the Criminal Code as amended by Law No. 1 of 2026 on Criminal Sentencing Adjustments, as well as Article 415(b) of the Criminal Code. They face a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case originated from a report filed with Belu Police on 13 January 2026, reference number LP/B/12/I/2026/SPKT/Polres Belu/Polda NTT, regarding an incident on Sunday 11 January 2026 at approximately 4.00pm local time at a hotel in Atambua, Belu Regency. The victim is a secondary school student identified by the initials ACT, aged 16.
Based on the preliminary investigation, the incident began when the victim and the suspects consumed alcoholic beverages in a hotel room. Whilst the victim was not fully conscious, the alleged rape is said to have occurred. On 19 January 2026, the case was officially upgraded from a preliminary inquiry to a formal investigation following a case review.