Komnas Perempuan: YTR Case in Bandung Does Not Yet Meet UN Definition of Torture

Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Sondang Frishka Simanjuntak stated that the confinement case of YTR, who was held captive and abused by Taufik Hidayat in Bandung, does not constitute torture. Sondang said the definition of torture in that case does not fall under the category established by the United Nations Convention Against Torture. This was conveyed by Sondang during an International Day Against Torture event at the Ombudsman Office in Jakarta on Friday (26/6/2026). Komnas Perempuan addressed the YTR case, which has drawn public attention. “For the YTR case, we need to state here that we cannot yet view it as a case of torture under the definition of the Convention Against Torture. The Convention Against Torture requires that the act is intended to cause severe pain, extraordinary suffering, to achieve a specific purpose,” Sondang said during a Q&A session with journalists, as seen on the Ombudsman RI YouTube account on Sunday (28/6/2026). She noted that under the UN Convention concept, the definition of torture requires the purpose of obtaining a confession, discrimination, and state involvement. Sondang also questioned whether there was negligence by the state in this case. “The purpose is, for example, to obtain a confession or for discrimination, and there is state involvement. In the YTR case, we have seen that there were indeed actions that caused severe pain. So the impact was extraordinary,” Sondang said. “Now, what we need to examine is whether this is not yet visible, whether there was negligence by the local government, for instance regarding her boarding house, or by law enforcement officials. For example, when the victim had tried to report her case but it was not followed up,” she continued. She said state negligence in the YTR case still needs to be investigated. Komnas Perempuan is committed to overseeing the case by deploying a team to Bandung. “That is where we can see whether there has been state involvement through negligence, so that it falls into the category of torture under the Convention Against Torture. So far, what Komnas Perempuan can do is we have also deployed a team to Bandung. In the next two days, we may be able to inform the public of our findings there,” Sondang said. Komnas Perempuan stated that the case involving YTR constitutes severe, premeditated abuse that has had a significant impact on the victim. “But currently, what we can see from the YTR case is that a severe, premeditated abuse did occur, where the abuse was carried out continuously over time and caused severe impacts, even leading to disability,” she added. Komnas Perempuan is urging a comprehensive medical examination for YTR. Consequently, if acts of sexual violence are discovered, the perpetrator could face layered charges. “And for that reason, we also urge a comprehensive medical examination. Perhaps within it, cases of sexual violence might also be found. So that the articles that can be charged against the perpetrator become layered and complete. Not just severe abuse as stipulated in the Criminal Code, but also using the Sexual Violence Crime Law,” she concluded.