Religious Teacher in Mataram Not Yet Detained, Child Protection Agency Urges Police to Arrest Him
The alleged perpetrator of sexual abuse against several students at a Quranic learning centre in Mataram has not yet been detained. The Mataram Child Protection Agency (LPA) is urging the police to take immediate action to prevent the perpetrator from fleeing or re-offending.
Chairman of the Mataram LPA, Joko Jumadi, said that his organisation had received reports of alleged sexual harassment experienced by several children while attending religious lessons. The victims were allegedly abused under the guise of Quran memorisation sessions.
According to Joko, the perpetrator touched the victims’ sensitive areas, from their genitals to their breasts. The victims are female students of junior high school age.
“The information I received is that he has been named a suspect, but has not been detained. This case dates back to last year,” said Joko when confirmed by detikBali, Thursday (26/2/2026).
“There are several victims, under 10 people. The modus operandi is that during Quran memorisation sessions, he would abuse them. It did not go as far as rape, only sexual abuse,” he explained.
Joko said that the perpetrator is around 40-50 years old and carried out his actions in the vicinity of the Quranic learning centre, where the victims studied.
“The perpetrator is an adult, around 40-50 years old. And the victims are children, girls, junior high school age. The perpetrator committed the abuse at the Quranic learning centre, during religious lessons,” he said.
He emphasised that the suspect is still in the Mataram area. Therefore, the LPA is urging the authorities to immediately carry out an arrest or forced detention.
“The suspect is still in Mataram, now we are just waiting for the forced detention. We are worried that he will flee,” said Joko.
Previously, a man with the initials HB was suspected of sexually harassing several of his students during religious lessons. HB is a religious teacher in the Ampenan sub-district, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
This case is being handled by the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) of the Mataram Police Criminal Investigation Unit. So far, six children have reported themselves as victims.
“There are about six victims for now,” said the Head of Sub-unit I PPA of the Mataram Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Aiptu Sri Rahayu, previously.
“The first victim said she was harassed 12 times. But I think it’s more, because every time there was an opportunity,” Sri added.
According to the victims’ testimonies, HB approached them when the situation was considered safe, then touched their sensitive body parts.
“When he saw that the situation was safe, and there was an opportunity, he pinched and hugged the victims,” she said.
(dpw/dpw)