Police Investigate Alleged Child Grooming Case Involving Headmaster in South Tangerang

Yesterday, we conducted an investigation based on the results of cyber patrols, which revealed several viral news links on social media,” said the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the South Tangerang Police, AKP Wira Graha Setiawan, when asked for confirmation on Saturday (16/5/2026).

Wira stated that AMA came to the South Tangerang Police to consult regarding the viral news. He added that AMA had also been questioned by the Women and Children Service Unit (PPA).

“While we were conducting the investigation at the school, we received information that Mr. AMA had arrived at the South Tangerang Police to consult about the news circulating on social media.

Then, the PPA Unit immediately took a statement from the person in question until approximately 11:00 PM,” he said.

It is known that in the viral posts, several anonymous accounts shared stories and testimonies regarding incidents at the school. One of the posts mentioned the headmaster’s approach to certain female students.

The headmaster is alleged to have targeted female students who lacked attention from their fathers. The incident is said to have occurred repeatedly.

For information, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) states that child grooming is a form of gender-based violence that targets children, especially girls, through unequal power relations, emotional manipulation, and the normalization of sexual behavior.

The pattern of child grooming generally emerges through the perpetrator’s strategy of positioning themselves as a close friend and listener, giving gifts and excessive validation, gradually normalizing sexual behavior, asking for the relationship to be kept secret to isolate the child from their support network, manipulating feelings of guilt and fear, and ultimately leading to sexual threats and coercion to ensure the victim continues to comply with their wishes.

Headmaster Suspended

The school has taken firm action. The school has suspended the headmaster.

“The foundation together with the school management has taken responsive steps. The suspension of the position is carried out in order to uphold transparency and the smooth running of the investigation process. Currently, the person concerned has been temporarily suspended from his position until the internal examination process is fully completed,” wrote the Instagram account @letrispamulangofficial, as seen on Friday (15/5).

The foundation then formed a team to investigate the facts. The school is committed to resolving the issue fairly and in accordance with the law.

“Our main focus now is to ensure that the learning environment remains safe and conducive for all students,” it wrote.

(mib/mea)