FPTI Chief: Let the alleged perpetrator defend himself if he is not guilty
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Yenny Wahid, Chairwoman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation (FPTI), said the former head coach of Indonesia’s rock climbing team, Hendra Basir, is welcome to defend himself in court if he believes he is not guilty in the case of alleged physical violence and sexual harassment.
She stated that FPTI’s fact-finding team (TPF) is working to gather evidence related to the violations, while criminally, five athletes have reported to the Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) as victims of the alleged misconduct.
‘The alleged perpetrator should simply face the legal process; if he believes he is not guilty, it can be proven legally, and this is beyond FPTI’s remit because the victims (athletes) have had the courage to bring the case to legal courts, which signals something very serious,’ Yenny said at the Indonesian climbing team’s training camp in Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday.
She explained that, so far, the alleged perpetrator has admitted that he trained in a hard and strict manner. Aside from that, the actions of sexual harassment were not committed.
‘Yes, face the consequences of what he did to the athletes, because all the allegations against him, I think must be faced legally,’ she said.
Yenny emphasised that regarding the police reports by the victims, FPTI only helps by facilitating the victims through provision of lawyers. Because, organizationally, it does not have the right to file legally, since it concerns the privacy of the athletes.
Previously, the former head coach of Indonesia’s rock climbing team, Hendra Basir, denied having carried out acts of sexual harassment and physical violence toward several of the athletes at the national training centre (pelatnas).
‘The eight athletes concerned should be asked which part of me I allegedly touched in a sexual manner or committed physical violence,’ he said when contacted from Jakarta on Tuesday (24/2) to clarify information regarding the alleged acts.
Hendra disclosed that until the decision letter (SK) from the Central Board of the Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation (PP FPTI) regarding his removal as head coach was issued, he had never been asked to clarify the alleged acts.
Furthermore, he revealed that since starting coaching in 2012, a harsh and disciplined training pattern has indeed been applied to every athlete he trained.
He admitted that he was indeed known for being stern in training the athletes. But that is part of a process to shape the mental and physical readiness to compete at the highest level, so as not to abuse or mistreat.
Regarding sexual harassment, he admitted he had never acted inappropriately toward female athletes, such as groping intimate parts, coercing sexual intercourse, and the like.
He also admitted that he had indeed once kissed the forehead or crown of a female athlete and hugged a female athlete who was down during a match or training.
However, such actions were not routinely performed, and only on certain moments, and not in a context of harassing.
‘But that was in the context of giving them encouragement when they were crying or their morale was down, so I would hug them and end up kissing their foreheads, as I do with my own children after prayers or before going to school,’ said the coach who led Indonesia to a Paris 2024 Olympic medal.
Hendra stated that if those actions are considered sexual harassment, he accepts that. But he believes the public should also understand the context in which he carried out those actions.