Singers protest sexual harassment

TANGERANG (JP): Over 125 female singers from a karaoke singing hall have sought legal advice from the legal aid institute here after a number of the girls were sexually assaulted by a mob protesting outside the night spot on Sept. 19.

Model singing hall's manager, Alex, who accompanied the singers to the office, said three of his employees were molested by members of the 150-strong mob which staged the midnight protest.

Two others had their jewelry stolen during the rally, which was led by someone called Edy Sulaiman, Alex said.

The victims said their breasts were repeatedly grabbed at by protesters who had forced their way into the entertainment spot.

Besides that, the moral mob hurled abuse at the girls and decried them as prostitutes, lawyers were told at the Unis Legal Aid Institute on Thursday.

"As manager, I have the duty to protect my staff," Alex said.

"The case was reported to the Tangerang police on Sept. 21," he added.

The protesters sparked fear across the municipality after gathering outside the singing hall at midnight and insinuating that it was a den of prostitution and drugs.

Alex said the mob damaged the singing hall and destroyed a car belonged to a visitor during the demonstration.

Alex also said that he saw Edy sitting in his car outside the singing hall when the incident occurred.

Edy, the group's leader, was given a four-ton consignment of food by the singing hall shortly before the protest. The food was supposed to go to help the poor.

"We gave him the aid package as he requested. Edy said he would distribute the rice among needy people, but we were never informed about to whom and when the rice was given out," Alex added.

"If Edy thought this singing hall was a brothel, why did he ask us for rice to give to the poor, orphans and Islamic boarding schools.

"He accepted the package, then ruined this place," Alex explained.

Edy Sulaiman, who often leads groups of people in protests against Tangerang night spots, could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile Edi Musa, a lawyer at the institute, said he would look into the case further, adding that theft and sexual assault were crimes under the law of the land. (41/jun)