Ministry of Religious Affairs: Suspected Sexual Abuse Perpetrator in Pekalongan Not a Pesantren Head, but Padepokan Leader

Director of Pesantren Affairs at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Basnang Said, confirmed that the suspected perpetrator of sexual abuse against female students in Pekalongan is not the head of a pesantren but the leader of a padepokan.

“The institution is not a pesantren, but a padepokan. I have checked the Education Management Information System (EMIS) data and confirmed that the institution does not have an operational permit and is not registered with the Pekalongan Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs office,” Basnang stated in a press release in Jakarta on Thursday.

He explained that the institution led by the suspected perpetrator is named Padepokan Padhang Ati. Due to lacking an operational permit or registration, referring to it as a pesantren is incorrect.

Basnang added that the Pekalongan Regency’s Diniyah and Pesantren Education Section had verified the institution’s legal status.

“We confirm the institution is named Padepokan Padhang Ati and located in Simbang Kulon Village, Buaran Subdistrict, Pekalongan Regency,” he said.

Basnang further stated that the case was discussed during a coordination meeting at the Pekalongan Regency’s Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Agency and Population and Family Planning Agency on 11 May 2026, attended by various local authorities.

As the institution was not registered with either the Ministry of Religious Affairs or the Ministry of Home Affairs’ National Unity and Political Affairs Bureau (Kesbangpol), it was decided that the case would be handled by Pekalongan Regional Police.

Victim reports were submitted to Pekalongan City Police Department, leading to the detention of Padepokan Padhang Ati’s caretaker at the police headquarters on 27 May 2026.

“We support the legal process conducted by authorities. There is zero tolerance for sexual violence anywhere and by anyone,” he added.