Preacher in Malang Named Suspect in Sexual Harassment of 'Pocong Oath' Content Models

Preacher and content creator Muhammad Idris Al-Marbawy, known as Gus Idris, has been named a suspect in an alleged criminal case of sexual violence. The determination of his legal status is part of a series of investigations that began with the testimonies of several female talents who claimed they experienced harassment during the filming of content themed around the ‘pocong oath’. Malang Police named Idris as a suspect after investigators gathered a number of pieces of evidence and examined several witnesses, which they deemed sufficient to elevate the preacher’s legal status. This marks the most significant development since the alleged harassment case involving several female talents emerged in the public sphere several months ago. ‘In establishing this suspect status, we have taken statements from six witnesses,’ said AKP Yulistiana Sri Iriana, Head of the Malang Police’s PPA and PPO Criminal Investigation Unit. Idris was originally scheduled to undergo his first examination by Malang Police investigators, but this did not take place because he failed to appear in response to the police summons. His absence was conveyed through his legal counsel, citing deteriorating health conditions, so investigators are still awaiting further coordination to schedule the next summons. Amidst the swirl of accusations against him, Idris had previously suggested that the controversy was linked to an internal conflict within his agency’s management, which resulted in the dismissal of a staff member. He suspected that the disappointment stemming from the termination was one of the factors that caused the issue to escalate and become widely discussed on social media. ‘It was just an internal management issue. But the person concerned, our staff member, we deactivated and dismissed him,’ Idris stated some time ago. ‘My current presumption is leaning towards that (resentment). But we really don’t know anymore. Because the person concerned, according to my lawyer, might be hurt and disappointed, which is only natural,’ he continued. The case first came to light after a female talent with the initials SN shared her experience on social media. She claimed to have accepted a filming offer that initially appeared to be a routine job. However, upon arriving at the shooting location in the Pakis area, Malang Regency, the victim began to feel various oddities that made her feel unsafe. ‘When I arrived at the location, I felt very uneasy because the place was full of men,’ the victim said. The victim also uploaded a warning to other female talents to be careful when accepting job offers involving certain themes related to ‘pocong oath’ content. The post subsequently went viral and prompted other victims to come forward with their own accounts, ultimately leading them to report to the police as well.