Mami and Cafe Owner in Gianyar Arrested by Police for Recruiting 9 Children as LCs

The Gianyar Resort Police (Polres) have arrested cafe owner I Wayan Brena and Ni Wayan Ayu Ningsih, commonly referred to as ‘mami’. The two are suspected of recruiting nine children to work as song guides or lady companions (LCs) at Brena’s cafe.

The two suspects admitted to employing nine underage children as song guides,” said Gianyar Police Chief AKBP Chandra Kesuma during a press conference at his office on Thursday (30/4/2026).

The nine children employed as LCs by Brena and Ningsih are initialled MA (14), DSA (15), DR (17), SAW (17), SM (14), LTS (14), AP (16), APA (13), and RNP (13). They were employed at Changi Sari cafe, Jalan Bypass Ida Bagus Mantra, since July 2025.

Chandra revealed that the case was uncovered during a surprise inspection (sidak) conducted two months ago. At that time, police checked the identification documents of Brena, Ningsih, and all employees at the cafe. According to Chandra, the nine children working at the cafe could not produce ID cards.

“Brena and Ningsih also could not produce their work contracts,” said Chandra.

“Brena is the cafe owner. Meanwhile, Ningsih is the mami,” he added.

Police then escorted Brena and Ningsih to the Gianyar Police Headquarters. To the police, Brena and Ningsih claimed they did not intentionally seek underage girls to become LCs. The two said one of the nine children came to the cafe looking for work.

The victim, Chandra said, claimed to have received information from someone about job opportunities at Brena’s cafe. The workers at the cafe were promised a salary of Rp 3 million from the number of bottles of alcoholic beverages sold.

“The modus operandi of the suspects is to exploit the victims’ needs with promises of a Rp 3 million salary. There was no coercion, but there was persuasion from the suspects to the victims,” Chandra stated.

Currently, the children employed as LCs are receiving psychological counselling. So far, police state that activities at the cafe have not led to prostitution practices involving the nine children.

“The suspects are charged under Article 2 of Law No. 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of Trafficking in Persons, with a penalty of 15 years in prison. If the investigation uncovers additional facts, we will add charges,” he concluded.