Islamic boarding school supervisor in Pekalongan suspected of molesting dozens of female students

Pekalongan City Police (Polresta) in Central Java arrested Abdul Khalim Fadlun, a caretaker at Padepokan Padang Ati Islamic Boarding School in Buaran, Pekalongan, over allegations of molestation. Pekalongan City Police Chief AKBP Riki Yariandi stated six victims aged 17 to 25 are currently being interviewed alongside the suspect. ‘We are also considering additional victims, as reports suggest over 25 individuals have yet to come forward,’ he said in Pekalongan on Wednesday (27 May). Following his arrest, the Padepokan Padang Ati Islamic Boarding School caretaker underwent intensive questioning by the Pekalongan City Police Criminal Investigation Unit. Several students suspected to be victims were also questioned by police. Prior to the arrest, a group of civil society organisation members identifying as Yakuza Mangenes stormed the school in Buaran, Pekalongan Regency, on Wednesday (27 May). The group demanded accountability from the school’s leadership over alleged sexual misconduct against dozens of students. During the visit by over 20 organisation members, former female students gave testimonies in front of hundreds of current students, urging them to speak out and file reports. Before tensions escalated, police secured the detention of KH Abdul Khalim Fadlun, head of Padepokan Padang Ati Islamic Boarding School in Buaran, Pekalongan. Yakuza Mangenes spokesperson Eko Ebes said the group had received dozens of complaints from victims, but only six had formally reported the case so far. ‘This figure does not include female students who previously went viral for becoming pregnant and giving birth, which is also suspected to be linked to the case,’ he added.