Judge at Tais District Court in Bengkulu denies active involvement in Yogyakarta daycare foundation

Seluma Regency (ANTARA) - Judge with initials Rafid Ihsan Lubis (RIL) at the Tais District Court (PN), Seluma Regency, Bengkulu Province, has denied active involvement in managing the Little Aresha Daycare Foundation in Yogyakarta. “Judge RIL has never been involved in the operational activities or decision-making at the foundation, limited only to assisting in the initial establishment phase,” said spokesperson for the Tais District Court, Rohmat, in Seluma Regency on Tuesday. He explained that in 2021, the foundation’s owner requested assistance from RIL to lend his electronic ID card (KTP) as one of the administrative requirements for establishing the legal entity. He stated that RIL stipulated that his name must be removed from the management structure after the foundation’s legal entity was officially formed. This request was made after RIL was declared to have passed as a candidate for civil servant (CPNS) judge and was not permitted to engage in activities outside his duties as a state apparatus. “RIL never appeared before a notary, did not sign the deed of establishment, and never granted power of attorney to others to act on his behalf in that legal process,” he said. Furthermore, based on the statement letter submitted, RIL explained that he never contributed capital, attended management meetings, or received any honorarium, salary, or benefits from the foundation’s activities. He also never participated in decision-making or further communications regarding the foundation’s operations. For all activity reports, including finances and operations of the foundation, he said they were never submitted to RIL, and the individual never signed any documents related to the foundation’s management. Previously, the Little Aresha Daycare in Yogyakarta was reported to the police over allegations of violence and discrimination against children entrusted there. Police then raided the daycare on Friday (24/4). At least 53 children were indicated to have experienced violence, discrimination, and neglect out of 103 children entrusted at the daycare. Police have named 13 individuals as suspects. Eleven are caregivers, and the other two are DK (51) as the foundation chair and AP (42) as the school principal. The other eleven are FN (30), NF (26), Lis (34), EN (26), SRm (54), DR (32), HP (47), ZA (30), SRj (50), DO (31), and DM (28).