Police Urged to Expedite Investigation into Islamic Boarding School Case Following Suspect's Arrest
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi has urged the police to expedite the investigation process in the sexual violence case against female students at a pondok pesantren in Pati Regency, Central Java, following the arrest of the suspect, the head of the pesantren with initials AS.
“We express our appreciation to the Central Java Provincial Police and the Pati Resort Police for securing the suspect after he previously ignored several summons from investigators and attempted to flee,” said Minister PPPA Arifah Fauzi in Jakarta on Thursday.
She stated that detaining the suspect is crucial to prevent the loss of evidence and to avoid potential repetition of sexual crimes.
“Detaining the suspect is very important to ensure that the law enforcement process runs optimally, to prevent the suspect from destroying evidence, to avoid the potential repetition of criminal acts and the creation of new victims, as well as to provide protection and a sense of security for the victims,” said Arifah Fauzi.
She emphasised that sexual violence crimes committed within caregiving and educational relationships constitute serious violations that not only damage children’s futures but also undermine public trust in educational and religious institutions.
Therefore, the legal process must be carried out firmly and in the best interests of the victims.
Previously, there were allegations of molestation against at least 50 female students by the founder and head of the Ndholo Kusumo Pondok Pesantren in Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu Subdistrict, Pati Regency, Central Java.
The victims are generally still in junior high school, from classes VII to IX.
Some of them are orphans or children from poor families who rely on free education at the pesantren.
The Pati Resort Police have designated the perpetrator with initials AS as a suspect.
However, AS failed to attend several examination summons from investigators.
Investigators then pursued the suspect, who was suspected of fleeing from Central Java to West Java and Jakarta.