PKB Central Java States Ashari is Not a Kiai, But a Lewd Shaman
The Secretary of the Central Java Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Sukirman, has asserted that Ashari, the suspect in the alleged sexual abuse of dozens of female students, is not a kiai.
He made this statement to reporters after leading the PKB Central Java Regional Leadership Consultation in Semarang City on Sunday, 10 May 2026. Sukirman even described Ashari as a lewd shaman who is masquerading as a religious figure.
According to him, the public had long believed that Ashari, who manages the Ndholo Kusumo Pesantren in Pati, was a charismatic kiai within that pesantren environment. However, the kiais affiliated with the PKB Central Java Shura Council have clarified that Ashari is not a kiai.
“No, he is a lewd shaman pretending to be a kiai. If he were a true kiai, his character, morals, and behaviour would certainly not be like that,” he stressed.
The Regional Leadership Consultation of the PKB Central Java DPW also discussed the alleged sexual abuse case at one of the pesantrens in Pati Regency. “Therefore, the kiais have agreed to tighten supervision of their respective pesantrens to prevent infiltration by individuals engaging in negative actions,” explained Sukirman, who is also the Acting Regent of Pekalongan.
He emphasised that PKB in the regions is monitoring parties who masquerade as kiais from pesantrens in their respective areas.
“A kiai has clear standards of morals, knowledge, and good character. This also applies to protecting their students. Whereas someone like this is merely pretending to be a kiai,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Sukirman conveyed that kiais who have students and are affiliated with PKB will enhance supervision in their respective regions to prevent the emergence of individuals claiming to be kiais.
Previously, there were allegations of sexual abuse against at least 50 female students by the founder and leader of the Ndholo Kusumo Pesantren in Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu Subdistrict, Pati Regency, Central Java.
The victims are generally still in junior high school, from Year VII to IX. Some of them are orphans or from poor families who rely on free education at the pesantren.
The Pati Police determined the suspect with initials AS. However, AS repeatedly failed to attend examination summonses from investigators.
Investigators then pursued the suspect, who was suspected of fleeing from Central Java to West Java and Jakarta. The suspect was finally secured by police in Wonogiri, Central Java, on Thursday, 7 May 2026.