Judge Rafid Claims He Lent ID Card to Little Aresha Daycare Chairperson Out of Friendship
Judge Rafid Ihsan Lubis has been implicated in the Little Aresha daycare case in Yogyakarta. Rafid claims his name was falsely listed as a Board of Trustees member after he lent his identity card (KTP) to the foundation’s chairperson, Diyah Kusumastuti alias DK (51), who is now a suspect.
“I did lend my KTP, but afterwards I knew nothing about how positions were determined, the establishment process, and from the beginning I never signed anything, gave power of attorney to appear before a notary, nor did I ever receive any benefit whatsoever,” Rafid said after questioning at the Yogyakarta Police Station on Saturday (13/6/2026).
At the same location, Rafid’s legal counsel, Dicke Muhdi, explained that his client had previously stayed at Diyah’s house. Rafid was friends with Diyah’s child.
“The lending of the KTP occurred in 2020, coincidentally our client was experiencing economic hardship so he was forced to stay at Mrs Diyah’s house. Our client was still a university student at the time,” Dicke stated.
Dicke said Rafid agreed to lend his KTP because of his friendship with Diyah’s child. He also dismissed any suggestion of a familial relationship between Rafid and the suspect.
“Our client was good friends with Mrs Diyah’s child. So he felt uncomfortable refusing to lend it. As for a family relationship, I need to emphasise here that there is absolutely none,” he continued.
For context, the Little Aresha daycare case came to light following a police raid in April. At that time, police found several children suspected of being subjected to violence at the childcare facility.
As the case progressed, police named 13 suspects. They include the foundation chairperson, the head of the school, and 11 caregivers.
The alleged violence was also revealed during a case reconstruction at the Little Aresha daycare. DK, as the foundation chairperson, is accused of giving orders or instructions to tie up unruly children.
“From the results of the reconstruction scene, she (DK) did not tie up the victims, but she gave the order,” an official stated after the reconstruction on Tuesday (9/6).
“One of the suspects also explained that it was conveyed by the foundation chairperson, ‘Just tie them up if they run around or are difficult to handle during bathing,’ something like that. That is what one of the suspects conveyed,” the official added.
The suspects are currently detained at the Yogyakarta Police Station. They are charged under the National Education System Law, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.