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)