Reconstruction Reveals Daycare Foundation Head Ordered Children to Be Tied Up

A reconstruction of the alleged child abuse and neglect case at Daycare Little Aresha took place at the daycare’s location in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday morning. A total of 23 scenes were demonstrated, revealing how the children were treated from the moment they were dropped off until they were picked up. The process lasted approximately three hours and was witnessed by representatives from the Yogyakarta District Attorney’s Office, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPID), legal counsel, and the victims’ parents.

Yogyakarta Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head, Kompol Riski Adrian, stated that the reconstruction clearly showed the suspects acted deliberately. ‘From the results of the reconstruction, it is evident that the suspects’ intentions were indeed intentional, and there were direct instructions from the head of the foundation,’ Adrian said at the scene. He explained that the re-enactment included scenes pointing towards criminal elements of violence committed by the suspects.

‘The victims were laid down in a state where they were completely tied up, but lying on their backs. If we, as adults, cannot move when tied, imagine how a toddler feels,’ Adrian added. He noted the children were placed in a relatively small room without air conditioning. ‘Indeed, when we conducted the raid, we saw directly that there was a child lying on their back, vomiting, and crying because they could no longer move,’ he continued.

According to Adrian, the victims were almost always tied up while entrusted at the daycare. They were only untied for specific activities, such as eating and bathing, which were documented as reports to the parents. The duration of the restraint varied depending on when the parents collected their children, with some being bound until the afternoon.

Regarding the role of the foundation head, identified by the initials DK, Adrian disclosed that DK received the children from parents at drop-off and handed them over to the caregivers. Direct orders from DK were not witnessed during the reconstruction. However, according to the caregivers’ testimony, the method of tying the children’s hands and feet had been a longstanding tradition, under DK’s direction. A suspect caregiver told prosecutors that DK had instructed them to tie up any children who were running around or difficult to manage. Adrian confirmed DK gave the command, was present daily, and saw the children directly while they were restrained.

The total number of suspects in this case remains 13, while 17 other individuals are under a mandatory reporting order. The 13 suspects consist of foundation head DK, school principal AP, and caregivers FN, NF, LIS, EN, SRM, DR, HP, JA, SRJ, DO, and DM. Police have applied corporate liability articles, namely Article 76A in conjunction with Article 77, or Article 76B in conjunction with Article 77B, or Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 of Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection, in connection with Articles 20 and 21 of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. These charges relate to discriminatory treatment, mistreatment, neglect, or violence against children, carrying prison sentences of 5 to 8 years. Adrian added that the case is also subject to Indonesia’s National Education System Law, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp1 billion.