Four Key Facts in Sukabumi Child Death Case Allegedly Involving Stepmother Abuse

The death of a young boy in Sukabumi, West Java, has drawn significant public attention. The victim, identified by his initials NS, died after allegedly suffering abuse involving his stepmother.

The case remains under police investigation. A number of facts have begun to emerge, from the condition of the victim when found, to autopsy results, and statements from family members and the stepmother.

The case first came to light when the victim’s biological father, Anwar Satibi (38), received a call from his wife asking him to return home. He was working in the city of Sukabumi at the time.

“I received a phone call saying, ‘Come home, Raja is unwell, he’s delirious and has a fever.’ That’s what my wife said,” Anwar stated on Saturday (21 February 2026).

Upon arriving home, he was shocked by his son’s condition.

“When I got home, I was shocked to see my child covered in blisters. I asked what happened. She [his wife] replied, ‘He has a fever, that’s why he has blisters,’” he recounted.

The victim was subsequently taken to hospital, where he managed to give a statement to relatives. “When asked, he admitted he was made to drink hot water [by his stepmother]. That’s why, in the video, I lost control,” Anwar said.

Autopsy Reveals Burns on Victim’s Body

An autopsy conducted by the medical team at Bhayangkara Hospital Level II, Setukpa Lemdiklat Polri Sukabumi, found burn injuries on several parts of the victim’s body.

“We found a 12-year-old child with burns on his limbs, on his left leg, and several injuries on his back. Burns were also found around the lips and nose, suspected to have been caused by heat,” said the head of Bhayangkara Hospital Level II Setukpa Lemdiklat Polri Sukabumi, Commissioner Carles Siagian, on Saturday (21 February 2026).

However, the exact cause of death has yet to be determined.

“The cause of death cannot yet be concluded because the injuries found should not have been fatal,” he said.

Stepmother Denies Violence

The victim’s stepmother, TR (46), denied the abuse allegations levelled against her. She claimed the injuries on the victim’s body were not the result of violence.

“The accusations from internet users as reported in the news are all untrue. I am not that cruel,” TR stated in a written interview via a messaging application on Saturday (21 February 2026).

She also claimed the victim had a history of serious illness. “The child died of blood cancer, leukaemia, and autoimmune disease. The blistering skin was caused by internal heat,” she claimed.

However, forensic examination results presented by police revealed a number of injuries on the victim’s body. Police disclosed that there were several burn marks on the victim.

“The forensic examination showed abrasions on several parts of the face, neck, and limbs. In addition, second-degree 2A burns were found at several points on the body, along with reddish-purple bruising indicating blunt force trauma,” explained Head of Criminal Investigation Unit at Sukabumi Police, Inspector Hartono, on Sunday (22 February 2026).

Police Reveal Victim’s Condition Before Death

Police also disclosed the victim’s condition prior to his death. The victim had returned home during a break from his Islamic boarding school and had fallen ill.

“On the same day, the victim was taken by his stepmother to a traditional massage therapist identified by the initial S. However, suspicion arose when the father returned home in the early hours of Thursday and discovered a number of abrasions spread across his son’s body,” Inspector Hartono said.

The victim was subsequently taken to Jampang Kulon Regional Hospital, where he made a statement before passing away. NS was pronounced dead on Thursday afternoon at approximately 4.00 pm local time.

Police stated that the exact cause of the victim’s death is still being investigated. The injuries found on the victim’s body now form part of the investigation process to uncover the truth behind the incident.

House Commission III Pledges Oversight

Chairman of House of Representatives Commission III, Habiburokhman, has drawn attention to the death of the boy NS (12). Commission III has demanded the case be thoroughly investigated.

“Commission III of the House of Representatives strongly condemns the violence that resulted in the death of Nizam Safei, aged 12,” Habiburokhman told reporters on Sunday (22 February 2026).

Habiburokhman said the perpetrator could be charged under Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 of Law Number 35 of 2014 on Child Protection. Under these provisions, the perpetrator could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Commission III also requested that Sukabumi Police investigate the case meticulously. If the alleged abuse was found to be a repeated pattern, it could result in a heavier sentence for the perpetrator.

“We also ask Sukabumi Police, as the investigators, to carefully examine whether the acts committed against young Nizam were sustained or not. If they were sustained, this would serve as an aggravating factor for the perpetrator of the abuse that resulted in Nizam Safei’s death,” he explained.

He added that Commission III would oversee the case through to the trial stage.

“We will continue to monitor this case through to trial so that the deceased and his family receive justice,” Habiburokhman said.