Police uncover illegal abortion practice in Serang martial arts instructor sexual abuse case
Serang (ANTARA) - The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the Banten Regional Police has uncovered an illegal abortion practice during the development of a sexual crime case against 11 underage children committed by a pencak silat instructor in Serang Regency.
Head of Subdit IV of the Banten Police Ditreskrimum, Ajun Komisaris Besar Polisi Irene Missy, in Serang on Monday, stated that the discovery of this abortion offence emerged after investigators delved into the victims’ reports and conducted searches at the crime scene.
“In the investigation process, we found an additional criminal act in the form of an abortion carried out on one of the victims who became pregnant as a result of the perpetrator’s actions,” she said.
The abortion is suspected to have been carried out in 2024 by the main suspect with initials MY (54) with the assistance of his wife, SM.
The victim was forced to consume certain medications and subjected to physical procedures until the foetus was expelled, which was then buried around the perpetrator’s home area in Waringinkurung Subdistrict.
The suspect MY is known to have carried out his indecent acts over the period from May 2023 to April 2026. Under the guise of spiritual cleansing rituals and aura opening, the perpetrator deceived dozens of children who were his students.
Based on investigation data, out of the total 11 victims, 10 children experienced intercourse and one child experienced molestation. The perpetrator often used mystical narratives, such as ancestral commands, to manipulate the victims into complying with his desires.
In addition to securing the suspects, the police also seized a number of pieces of evidence including ritual equipment, victims’ clothing, menstrual regulators, shrouds, and tools used to bury the foetus from the abortion.
For his actions, the suspect MY is charged with multiple articles under the Child Protection Law as well as Article 464 of the Criminal Code on abortion, with a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Meanwhile, SM, the suspect’s wife, is charged under Article 464 of the Criminal Code with a penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment for her involvement in the abortion act.
The Banten Regional Police emphasise that they will continue to investigate this case thoroughly and ensure comprehensive protection and psychological counselling for all affected victims.