Man arrested over sex offense

JAKARTA (JP): Kemayoran police precinct arrested yesterday a man in connection with the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl, identified as Oct, police said.

The Kemayoran police precinct said that the 32-year-old suspect had worked as a security guard at an elementary school in Kemayoran attended by the victim. Police said the suspect was being held in police detention and had confessed to committing the crime.

"He has admitted that he sexually abused the victim," a police source said.

The victim's mother, Ana, told reporters yesterday that she suspected the incident because of her daughter's unusual behavior.

"After coming home from school on Tuesday she was much quieter than usual. When I asked her what was wrong she told me that Sarijo had done something to certain parts of her body," she said.

Hearing her daughter's story, Ana promptly examined her daughter physically and immediately reported the incident to the police. Sarijo was apprehended on the same day, Ana said.

According to Ana, Sarijo was known for being very friendly towards the school's pupils.

"I am afraid that my daughter is not the only victim," Ana said. (01)