National Police Criminal Investigation Agency Designates Preacher SAM as Suspect in Alleged Santri Harassment Case
Indonesia’s National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has officially designated preacher with initials SAM as a suspect in a case of alleged harassment against santri. This suspect designation was made after investigators conducted a case review related to the report.
The Head of Public Information for the Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that the investigation was carried out by the Directorate of Child Protection and Sexual Violence Crimes (PPA and PPO) at Bareskrim Polri. This reflects the National Police’s commitment to providing protection to victims.
“Based on the case review conducted by investigators following police report number: LP/B/586/XI/2025/SPKT/Bareskrim Polri dated 28 November 2025, the investigators have designated Mr. SAM as a suspect,” Trunoyudo told reporters on Friday (24/4/2026).
Trunoyudo explained that the police have also issued a Notification of Investigation Progress (SP2HP) to the reporter or victim with initials MMA. The letter was officially signed by the investigators on 22 April 2026.
“The reporter or victim has been notified of the investigation progress through SP2HP number B/66/IV/Res.1.24/2026/Dittipid PPA and PPO to Mr. MMA on 22 April 2026, signed by the investigators,” he clarified.
Previously reported, the preacher with initials SAM was reported to Bareskrim Polri for alleged sexual harassment of santri. According to statements from the victims’ legal representatives, Benny Jehadu, the suspect often appeared on television as a judge for Quran memorisation competitions.
“The suspect, initials SAM, frequently participates in one of the private TV programmes,” said Benny Jehadu when met at Bareskrim Polri on Thursday (12/3).
The legal representatives also stated that they had submitted several pieces of evidence confirming the criminal act. The evidence submitted includes digital traces of conversations up to a past video recording.
“The evidence we submitted to the investigators includes chat evidence, videos, and some other evidence. The video is like during a tabayyun, a request for forgiveness from the perpetrator to religious scholars,” explained another victim legal representative, Wati Trisnawati.
This indecent act case has more than one victim. The legal representatives mentioned that all their clients have suffered profound psychological trauma as a result of the incident.
“The victims for our clients are five people because this case actually involves sexual harassment not against girls, but boys, same-sex, including minors and adults,” explained Benny Jehadu.
The unlawful acts are suspected to have been ongoing for quite some time, spanning years. The locations of the incidents during the police examination were also said to have occurred in several different places.
“For the timing, it’s around 2017, with different victims at different times. Some in 2017, 2018, up to 2025. But the times vary,” concluded Wati Trisnawati.