Police deny that teenage girl was victim of rape

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira yesterday denied reports that a 14-year-old girl was raped by a school teacher and a police corporal.

"We have questioned the girl and the alleged rapists. We conclude that there was no rape or sexual intercourse," Abubakar said.

He also said the second corporal is not posted at Central Jakarta Police precinct. "He is a member of a detachment at Jakarta Police Headquarters and will soon be moved to the Central Jakarta Police precinct."

However, Abubakar confirmed that the school teacher did take the schoolgirl to a hotel and to Puncak, a vacation resort near Bogor. "I will take stern disciplinary action against him for his wrongdoing in taking an underaged girl to certain places without the knowledge and consent of her parents."

Abubakar added, however, that the police will continue interrogating the police corporal.

He said so far the report was only based on the account of the girl's mother.

He said the elementary schoolgirl told the police that she was having a problem with her parents and asked the sports teacher for advise, Abubakar said yesterday.

Earlier, according to the girl, a sixth grade elementary school student, the teacher invited her to his dwelling in Muara Baru, Penjaringan district, North Jakarta, on May 10.

Still in her school uniform, he took her to his friend's house in Tanah Abang, and from there to a hotel on Jl. Jati Baru in Central Jakarta.

The girl told police that the rape happened at around 7 p.m. A hotel employee become suspicious and alerted a police officer, the corporal, who then waited outside for them.

The teacher, the schoolgirl and the hotel employee were taken to the Jakarta Police Headquarters for questioning.

After the girl and the teacher whispered something to the police corporal, he took them to the teacher's house. The girl said someone in the house gave the police officer Rp 100,000 in cash which she took to be hush money.

Abubakar said yesterday that he will order the owners of hotels located along Jl. Jati Baru to strictly obey the existing rules before accepting guests.

"The hotel owners or officers should ask for the ID of all guests," he said.

He said the police will carry out regular crackdowns on the hotels to check whether the owners comply with the law. (jun/bsr)