Gibran Requests Intensive Support for Victims of Sexual Violence in Pati

Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming, has ordered that the victims of sexual violence at a pesantren in the Pati area, Central Java, receive intensive support. “I have also requested that psychological support and trauma healing be provided intensively to the victims,” Gibran stated in his remarks on Tuesday (5/5/2026). Therefore, he urged that schools and pesantrens must become safe and comfortable places for children. “In the future, supervision and protection of students will be strengthened to prevent similar incidents from recurring,” he continued. He also urged that the legal process for this case be conducted firmly and transparently. “Such actions cannot be tolerated. The legal process will be carried out firmly, transparently, and justly,” he said. The police have stated that they have gathered sufficient preliminary evidence after examining witnesses and processing the crime scene. Pati Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Jaka Wahyudi, mentioned that a kiai named Ashari was designated as a suspect on 28 April 2026 following a case review. This case was actually reported as early as 2024, while the molestation of the victims is alleged to have occurred since 2020. However, the police claimed that the handling process after the 2024 report was delayed due to attempts at family-based resolution from the victims’ side. Although already designated as a suspect, the perpetrator has not yet been detained because he is considered cooperative during the examination process.