Heartbreaking Story of Four-Year-Old Child Scavenging While Father Remains in Prison
At just four years of age, a young boy in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, is already experiencing the hardships of the capital city. Instead of a school bag, the boy, identified as F, carries sacks to scavenge for discarded bottles.
The story of boy F went viral on social media after amateur video footage captured him scavenging for discarded bottles in the Pulo Gadung Industrial Area, Rawa Sumur Street, Jatinegara Village, Cakung District, East Jakarta. In the circulated recording, F is seen conversing with a truck driver.
“Who do you live with?” the truck driver asks.
“With my grandmother,” F replies whilst holding a discarded bottle.
The heartbreaking story of F prompted East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal to visit the location. Upon learning of his difficult circumstances, the Police Chief, together with Social Welfare Department officials, ultimately returned boy F to his mother’s care in Sumedang, West Java.
Loss of Parental Care
Following the viral video, East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal went to meet boy F. It was later revealed that F lived with his grandmother and a younger sibling identified as N (3) at a scavenging site in the Pulo Gadung area.
At an age when he should be receiving warmth and affection from his parents, F instead must live separated from both his father and mother. His father is reportedly being detained at Bekasi Police Station on criminal charges, whilst his mother, SS, is known to have remarried and lives in Sumedang Regency, West Java.
F and his younger sibling live in difficult circumstances. Daily, he helps his grandmother scavenge for discarded bottles and cardboard.
Police Chief Visits the Location
The viral incident touched the conscience of East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal. Alfian and the Deputy Police Chief visited F directly at the scavenging site where he lived with his grandmother and sibling.
During the visit, the Police Chief met F, his sibling N, and their grandmother. A warm atmosphere was evident as the Police Chief offered attention and light refreshments to the two children.
Senior Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal stated that this effort was undertaken as a demonstration of the police force’s commitment to providing protection for women and children.
“We are present not merely as law enforcement personnel, but also as representatives of the state with the duty to ensure every child receives protection and a decent future. When we see a child in need of attention, the police force must be present to provide solutions,” said Senior Commissioner Alfian Nurrizal in a statement on Friday, 13 March.
Returned to Mother in Sumedang
Senior Commissioner Alfian subsequently coordinated with Sumedang Police Chief Senior Captain Sandityo Mahardika regarding this matter. He also communicated directly with F’s biological mother through video call.
In that conversation, SS expressed her willingness to resume caring for both children in Sumedang.
As a demonstration of concern, the East Jakarta Metro Police Chief also provided assistance to the family, received by the grandmother. Following coordination amongst family members and the Social Welfare Department, a child handover report was signed, witnessed by family members, police personnel, and Social Welfare Department officials.
Head of the Social Implementation Unit for Cakung District, Dhona Susanti, who attended the event, emphasised that the state was present through coordination amongst various parties to ensure children’s rights remained protected.
“We from the Social Welfare Department are present as an extension of the state to ensure these children receive protection and their rights are fulfilled. All handling processes have been conducted in a coordinated manner to ensure their future remains secure,” she stated.
In the afternoon, East Jakarta Metro Police together with DKI Jakarta Social Welfare Department directly escorted F and N to their mother’s home in Sumedang Regency using police vehicles. Senior Commissioner Alfian also ensured that the return process did not end merely with transportation, but would be continuously monitored through cross-jurisdictional coordination.
“We have already coordinated with Sumedang Police Chief and the local Social Welfare Department to ensure both children receive support following their return to their family environment. The state must be present to guarantee children’s rights so they can develop properly,” he concluded.