Rape case reported to rights body

Rape case reported to rights body

JAKARTA (JP): A woman has asked the National Commission on
Human Rights for help in connection with the alleged rape of her
daughters.

Commissioner Djoko Sugianto, who met with the woman at his
office yesterday, told reporters that she is also being
threatened by the alleged rapist.

Sugianto said that the woman, who is to remain anonymous to
the public, told the Commission that the police were reluctant to
proceed with investigations because of a lack of evidence.

The woman, who is a widow, earlier told the press that she did
not want to be identified because of fears for her safety.

According to Sugianto, the police dropped the case because an
examination had found that her daughters, aged 11 and nine, were
still virgins.

He said that the Commission would urge the police to resume
investigation of the case.

The woman said that, initially, she had not had the courage to
speak to reporters because the alleged rapist had threatened to
kill her.

The woman said that her daughters told her last month that
they had been raped repeatedly by the man in May. They said the
offenses took place at his home, located in the same apartment
building.

The woman later reported to the Pluit police precinct in North
Jakarta, which sent the girls to hospital for an examination.
(03)