New Suspect in Little Aresha Daycare Abuse Case Skips Questioning

One of five new suspects in the child abuse case at the Little Aresha daycare in Yogyakarta failed to appear for questioning at Yogyakarta City Police headquarters yesterday. The absent suspect worked as a carer at the daycare.

Head of the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) of Yogyakarta City Police’s Criminal Investigation Division, Inspector Apri Sawitri, said the suspect had been scheduled for questioning next week.

“(The reason for the absence) Her legal counsel was unable to accompany her,” Apri said when contacted by detikJogja on Tuesday (28/7).

“We have rescheduled the suspect’s questioning for next week, on Monday,” she added.

The four other new suspects underwent questioning on Tuesday (28/7). Three of them were immediately detained after questioning, while one suspect has not been detained.

“Four suspects (attended). The one who didn’t come was a carer. So those who came today were one domestic staff member, one carer, and two kindergarten teachers,” Apri said.

The one suspect who was not detained after questioning was said to have recently given birth.

“Of those detained — four attended today and three were detained. One was not detained because she has a baby. She was on maternity leave and had just given birth. She is a carer,” Apri explained.

To date, police have named a total of 32 suspects in the case. Police are still investigating the possibility of further suspects.

“Thirty-two suspects. One has yet to be questioned as a suspect. (New suspects) are still being investigated,” she concluded.

About the Abuse Case at Little Aresha

The case came to light after police raided the Little Aresha daycare in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta, on Friday (24/4). At the time, police secured 30 people, and 13 were named suspects.

Yogyakarta City Police Chief, Commissioner Eva Guna Pandia, revealed that all 13 people named suspects were women. They were DK (51), AP (42), FN (30), NF (26), Lis (34), EN (26), SRm (54), DR (32), HP (47), ZA (30), SRj (50), DO (31), and DM (28).

“The first is initials DK, the Foundation Chairperson. The second is initials AP, the school principal. The other eleven acted as carers,” Pandia said at Yogyakarta City Police headquarters on Monday (27/4) evening.

Children Tied Up From Morning

Commissioner Eva said the children suffered inhumane treatment at the hands of the carers. Although she did not go into detail, she revealed some of the treatment inflicted.

“One example of this inhumane treatment was placing them in an overcrowded room with minimal air circulation. They were tied using cloth fashioned like rope, binding them to the door,” Pandia said.

The children received the same treatment. Several children were also said to have bruise marks on their wrists or ankles.

“From our investigation so far, we have conducted medical examinations on three children. On average, the wounds were on their wrists, which suggests injuries from rope bindings,” said Head of the Criminal Investigation Division, Deputy Commissioner Riski Adrian, at the time.

The children, Adrian continued, were tied up from the moment they arrived at the daycare until just before their parents collected them. The bindings were only removed at certain times, namely during meals and baths.

“(Tied up) from the morning, then just before meals they were dressed and photographed to send documentation to the parents, and the bindings were only removed during baths and meals,” Adrian explained.

“The times varied — some were there from Monday to Sunday, some from Monday to Saturday, there were various packages. The price was adjusted to each student’s parents. Some from morning until midday, some from morning until 5pm, depending on the parents,” he said.

On the Foundation Chairperson’s Orders

Adrian revealed the suspects admitted committing the abuse on the orders of the foundation’s senior figures, namely DK and AP. The orders were conveyed verbally and carried out continuously.

“There were no written rules or procedures. But according to the testimony of the eleven carer suspects, they were ordered to do it by the Foundation Chairperson. It was not in the SOP — it was conveyed verbally and directly by the Foundation Chairperson,” Adrian explained.

“(The school principal) likewise, because the Foundation Chairperson and the school principal were always present every morning and directly witnessed the carers doing these things to the children. So they knew about it and ordered it,” he continued.

The carers directly carried out the alleged torture of the children. According to the suspects’ testimony, the instructions were also passed down to new carers.

“The carers said this was passed down through the generations. Before they joined, people were already working there, and these methods were also conveyed by their seniors or those who had left,” Adrian said.

Adrian explained the motive for the case was strongly suspected to be economic. The management wanted to keep the number of carers low relative to the children placed at the daycare.

This was evident from the 103 children placed at the daycare, which was disproportionate to the number of carers.

“What the Police Chief said is true, very true — the motive was economic. Because how can one carer be expected to look after seven to eight children?” Adrian said.

“One shift had two carers, some three, some four. They should have limited the number of children. According to the parents, they were promised each teacher would handle two to three children. But they kept accepting more, which means they were seeking profit,” he added.

The carers were ultimately driven to commit abuse against the children because of their workload. In addition, the foundation chairperson and school principal also gave direct instructions to commit the despicable acts.

“According to the perpetrators, because each teacher had to handle up to twenty children,” Adrian said.

“They struggled to do their work, from bathing to dressing the children, so they were ordered to commit those inhumane acts,” he continued.