Former teacher named suspect

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Police have named on Wednesday a former Cianjur high school teacher a suspect for having underage sex with at least two students and may also charge him with rape.

If convicted, the teacher, who has only been identified by his initials, "DD", could spend a maximum seven years in jail.

Cianjur Police detectives chief Adj. Comr. Wardoli said the former teacher of the Cianjur No. 2 Senior High School was named a suspect after testimony from four witnesses. They were the school principal Aan Suwandi, another unnamed teacher and two 16- year-old students.

The story, which made headlines in local media, began when the teacher, who is also a school counselor, summoned the girls "YN and "AN" after they were caught smoking in a classroom.

After being told that smoking was a "slutty" act, the two girls made allegations that other female students were involved in prostitution with "DD" acting as their pimp. They then admitted to having sex with "DD" at a nearby resort in the area last month.

Denying earlier reports that there was also a "sex orgy" in the teacher's classroom "YN" spoke to media on Sunday, admitting only to once having sex with her boyfriend inside the school.

Cianjur is known for being a devoutly Muslim area and the regency has imposed certain elements of sharia law.

Four years ago, Regent Wasidi Swastomo pledged to prioritize "moral development" in the regional plan.