Local government urged to provide comprehensive support for victims in Pati pesantren case

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has urged local governments to provide support for the child victims and their families in the sexual violence case at Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo, Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu District, Pati Regency, Central Java. “KPAI emphasises that support for the victims should be provided by local governments, including assistance for psychological recovery in the form of psychosocial services, as well as legal support in the form of legal aid,” said KPAI Chairman Aris Adi Leksono when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday. The commission also requests social assistance for the victims and their families, considering that the victims generally come from underprivileged families. KPAI strongly condemns the sexual crime against dozens of female students. It also calls on law enforcement authorities to impose sanctions on the perpetrator in accordance with Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection and Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes. KPAI further demands aggravated punishment given that the perpetrator is an educator who should have protected the victims. Previously, there were allegations of molestation against at least 50 female students by a pesantren cleric at Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo in Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu District, Pati Regency, Central Java. Some of them are orphans or children from poor families who rely on free education at the pesantren. The Pati Police have named the cleric with initials AS as a suspect. However, despite his status as a suspect, AS has not yet been detained.