Ombudsman: Pati pesantren case handling must ensure victim protection

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI) has stated that handling the alleged sexual violence case at Pondok Pesantren Tahfidzul Qur’an Ndholo Kusumo in Pati Regency, Central Java, must guarantee victim protection. Commissioner Syafrida Rasahan of the Indonesian Ombudsman said the case must not be handled solely as a criminal matter but must also ensure the continuity of students’ education and accountability of all involved public services. “The Indonesian Ombudsman’s on-ground presence is a concrete commitment to ensure the state is present for victims,” Rasahan said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday. Thus, the Indonesian Ombudsman has reaffirmed its commitment to oversee the handling of the alleged sexual violence case at the Pondok Pesantren Tahfidzul Qur’an Ndholo Kusumo. Through its own-initiative investigation (IAPS) conducted from 8-10 May 2026 in Central Java, ORI urged all stakeholders to promptly provide legal certainty for victims while safeguarding the education of hundreds of affected students. Rasahan explained that the oversight commitment extends beyond the criminal aspects of the perpetrators to encompass the full accountability of public services. The Indonesian Ombudsman’s investigation team has conducted on-site inquiries and marathon coordination with the Central Java Regional Police, Pati Police Resort, Pati Regency’s Women and Child Protection Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD PPA), pesantren management, witnesses, and victim support groups. Field inspections revealed that case handling had stalled at times, despite urgent needs to ensure legal certainty and maximum protection for victims. ORI has also expressed serious concern for the education continuity of 252 students, including 48 orphans, directly affected by the temporary suspension of the pesantren’s operations. According to Rasahan, the situation demands swift and coordinated action from all stakeholders to prevent students from becoming secondary victims due to disrupted education access. It was emphasised that the state must not allow children to lose their right to education due to slow institutional responses. “At the same time, fulfilling victims’ rights to protection, psychological recovery, and legal certainty must be the top priority,” she added. As a follow-up, the Indonesian Ombudsman will conduct further inquiries with several ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Religion, Pati Public Prosecutor’s Office, local governments, and other relevant parties. ORI will also continue cross-departmental investigations involving the Indonesian Ombudsman’s Central Java Regional Office to ensure comprehensive oversight, from law enforcement and victim protection to evaluating the management of pesantren educational institutions. She stressed that the Indonesian Ombudsman will ensure all public service providers fulfil their duties professionally, transparently, and in the interests of victims. “Public trust is built through concrete action, not just statements. Therefore, the Indonesian Ombudsman will continue to oversee this case until fair, transparent handling is achieved, guaranteeing victims’ rights and the students’ future,” Rasahan said.