Little Aresha Daycare Case: Legislator Demands Harsh Sanctions for Perpetrators

JAKARTA - A member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Arzeti Bilbina, has urged law enforcement authorities to impose maximum sanctions on the perpetrators of child abuse at Little Aresha daycare in Yogyakarta.

She also called on the local government to promptly revoke the operational permit of the facility as a form of accountability.

“This is an inhuman act and a crime that cannot be tolerated in any way. The perpetrators must face firm sanctions, including the revocation of the facility’s operational permit to ensure no further victims in the future,” Arzeti stated, as quoted by Antara News on Sunday (26/4/2026).

She further requested that the government ensure the children who are victims in the alleged abuse case at the daycare in Yogyakarta receive intensive counselling from psychologists or child counsellors.

According to Arzeti, intensive support from professionals such as psychologists or child counsellors is essential to help the victims recover from their trauma.

In addition, she warned that violence at an early age has the potential to leave deep-seated trauma that disrupts a child’s long-term development.

In her view, psychological impacts such as excessive fear, sleep disturbances, and reduced self-confidence can hinder the emotional and cognitive development of the victims if not addressed promptly.