Police Track Former Little Aresha Daycare Employees, Investigate Pattern of Child Abuse
The investigation into the alleged assault of children at Little Aresha daycare in Yogyakarta is ongoing. Police are tracking former employees of Little Aresha to probe the practices of violence against entrusted children.
Currently, police have named 13 suspects consisting of the foundation chair, school principal, and caregivers who were secured during last week’s raid. It is known that there are 53 child victims under the daycare’s care this academic year.
Yogyakarta Police Resort’s Criminal Investigation Unit Head, Commissioner Riski Adrian, explained that from the statement of suspect DK, the foundation chair, it was learned that Little Aresha daycare was established in 2021. However, its founding deed only exists from 2022.
“We are tracing from when they started doing that (the violence), because there is a suspect named SR, who has been working there for 1.5 years,” Adrian said when met in the Malioboro area on Friday (1/5/2026).
“We asked when this practice started? (Answered) ‘Before I was there’, meaning even she has been there for a year and a half, they were already doing it before her,” he continued.
Based on that, they are opening the possibility of new suspects from former employees. Because, from the list of caregivers displayed at the daycare, most of the caregivers are no longer working at Little Aresha.
“Now we are tracing who the caregivers were before, because from the structure we have, those who might have scattered, almost none of the caregivers are still there,” Adrian explained.
“There might be some who come and go. That’s why we are tracing who the previous (employees) were, we are tracing to find out since when such patterns like this have been happening,” he added.
Potential for More Victims
In line with that, Adrian said, they are also opening the possibility of an increase in the number of victims from children who were previously entrusted at Little Aresha. He claimed to have coordinated on this matter with the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).
“Yesterday we formulated together with LPSK and the Integrated Service Unit for Women and Children Protection (UPTD PPA), the point is (reports) from all students (who were) there will be accommodated,” Adrian explained.
“If there is physical violence, we will direct them to get treatment or request medical records. For the old ones, we request medical records, for those with remaining marks, we will have them treated and then request a medical examination. However, if there is no physical (evidence), we will assess them at the UPTD PPA,” he concluded.