Sidoarjo Spiritual Retreat Leader Reported for Alleged Child Sexual Abuse

A case of alleged sexual abuse and intercourse with a minor has occurred again in Sidoarjo Regency. A leader of a spiritual retreat has been reported to the police for allegedly molesting a teenage girl, causing the victim to suffer severe trauma and nearly attempt suicide. The family, together with their legal counsel, is now urging the Sidoarjo Resort Police to arrest the reported individual within 24 hours. The case was officially reported to the Sidoarjo Resort Police on 26 March 2026, with police report number LP/B/88/3/2026/SPKT/Polresta Sidoarjo. The reported individual is known to be the leader of Padepokan Kendali Sodo, referred to as Habib Ki Buyut Sodo Lanang or Ki Sodo Lanang, 73. The victim’s legal counsel, Dimas Yemahura Al Farauq, revealed that the alleged depraved acts are believed to have occurred repeatedly from May 2025 to February 2026. In carrying out his actions, the reported individual exploited his status as the spiritual teacher of the victim’s uncle. He frequently took advantage of an empty house to molest and force the victim into sexual intercourse in the Citra Garden Housing complex area, Sidoarjo. ‘The victim has not dared to report this because she received threats of slow murder from the reported individual. Additionally, the victim was threatened with eviction from the house because the reported individual indoctrinated her that her uncle and aunt would only believe the words of the reported individual as a teacher,’ said Dimas during a press statement on Tuesday (9/6). The police had actually upgraded the status of this case from inquiry to investigation on 7 May 2026. A medical visum result indicated old injuries from blunt force trauma on the victim’s genitals, reinforced by psychological test results stating the victim had experienced sexual abuse for a long time. However, to date, the police have yet to make an arrest or name Ki Sodo Lanang as a suspect. This situation has caused the victim to experience extremely severe psychological pressure. The victim felt despair seeing the reported individual still breathing free air, nearly leading her to take desperate action to end her life. ‘We request the esteemed Sidoarjo Resort Police Chief, Police Commissioner Christian Tobing, and the Head of the Sidoarjo PPA Unit to immediately arrest and name the reported individual as a suspect within 24 hours of this press conference. This effort is crucial to save the victim’s psychological state and prevent further victims, considering the reported individual is the leader of a spiritual retreat,’ Dimas stressed. Furthermore, Dimas expressed regret over indications of dishonesty from the reported individual. Based on information received by the legal team, the reported individual allegedly attempted to obscure the facts by creating a medical certificate with a backdated date to avoid investigator examination. The family and legal counsel hope the Sidoarjo Resort Police will fully commit to upholding the law objectively, without regard to the social status or capacity of the reported individual as a retreat leader. The victim’s uncle, Aditya, supports the perpetrator being arrested within 24 hours. Aside from being immoral, the condition of the victim, who is still a minor, is increasingly concerning. ‘We demand firmness from the Sidoarjo Resort Police Chief to investigate this case,’ said Aditya. The Head of the Women and Children Protection and Human Trafficking Eradication Unit at the Sidoarjo Resort Police, AKP Laila Rahmawati, acknowledged that her unit is conducting an investigation into the alleged molestation case. According to Laila, to date, the case has no suspect as it is still awaiting an internal case review. ‘For the naming of a suspect in this case, we are still waiting to see what the results of the case review are like first,’ said Laila.