Mother Who Assaulted Her Child's Rapist in Southeast Sulawesi Granted Judicial Pardon
The Pasarwajo District Court (PN) has decided to pardon a mother, identified by the initial A, who assaulted the perpetrator of a rape against her child in Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. The judge considered various mitigating factors regarding A’s actions.
The verdict for the assault case was read by the judge at the Pasar/wajo District Court, Buton, on Thursday (18/06/2026). The judge initially stated that the defendant was proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing the criminal act of assault as regulated under Article 466, paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code.
“Declaring to grant forgiveness to the Defendant. Declaring that the Defendant is not sentenced to criminal punishment or subject to any legal action,” stated the judge in the verdict, as quoted from the Case Tracking Information System (SIPP) of the Pasarwajo District Court.
In the ruling, the judge also ordered that all evidence in this case be destroyed. The judge considered the circumstances surrounding the act, the psychological condition of the perpetrator, and the intended benefits of criminal punishment.
The judge assessed that the defendant’s child, who is the victim, continues to suffer from trauma and requires support from her mother. Meanwhile, the injuries sustained by the perpetrator did not cause serious disruption to daily activities.
“The defendant has no prior criminal record, was cooperative during the trial, admitted and regretted her actions, and is the breadwinner for a family supporting five children,” the judge noted.
Based on these considerations, the Panel of Judges applied Article 54, paragraph (2) of the Criminal Code, which grants judges the authority to refrain from imposing criminal penalties under certain circumstances. The Pasarwajo District Court assessed that the purpose of punishment in this case did not necessarily need to be realised through imprisonment.
“On the contrary, punishing the Defendant would potentially cause new suffering for a family that has already been victimised,” the judge added.
Consequently, although found guilty, the Defendant received judicial pardon and was not sentenced to prison or any other legal action. The ruling emphasises that judicial pardon is not a form of justification for violence.
Background of the Case
The case began when the mother discovered that her underage child had been a victim of rape. On 8 September 2025, the mother approached the perpetrator to demand an explanation and accountability.
However, the perpetrator denied the act, which provoked the anger of the mother and her husband, leading to the assault on the rapist. This alleged assault subsequently proceeded to trial. The public prosecutor had previously sought a three-month prison sentence for the defendant.