Sukabumi Transport Department Secretary Arrested for Allegedly Molesting Three Intern Students
Officers from the Sukabumi Police, West Java, have arrested the Secretary of the Sukabumi Regency Transport Department, identified by the initials TIP (54), for allegedly committing sexual violence against three vocational school students undertaking internships (PKL).
The alleged sexual harassment included physical violence as well as non-physical harassment through indecent language.
Sukabumi Deputy Police Chief, Commissioner Agus Susanto, revealed that the case came to light after the victims’ school officially filed a report with the police. Following intensive investigation and interrogation, investigators found sufficient preliminary evidence to designate the Echelon III/a official as a suspect.
“The modus operandi began when the suspect invited the victims—three female students who were conducting their internships at an agency where the suspect works—to participate in activities,” said Agus, accompanied by Criminal Investigation Unit Head, Inspector Dudi Suharyana, during a press conference at the Sukabumi Police Headquarters on Friday (18/9).
Agus explained that the victims were initially invited to engage in activities within the suspect’s office. However, TIP allegedly exploited the situation to carry out indecent acts against the students, who were under his influence as a departmental official.
“This is where the physical and non-physical harassment occurred. The suspect’s method involved sitting on top of the victims and groping their bodies,” Agus elaborated.
In addition to physical actions, the suspect also uttered vulgar remarks that caused the victims to feel psychologically pressured and intimidated.
“In terms of non-physical harassment, the suspect used indecent language, which can be categorised as non-physical sexual harassment, while interacting with the victims,” he stated.
Office transformed into a karaoke room
Furthermore, during the investigation into the alleged harassment, police revealed that TIP had transformed his office into a karaoke room. The alleged molestation of the three interns was carried out inside the official’s office under the pretext of singing karaoke together.
During the press conference, police displayed audio equipment seized from the official’s office. The evidence included a large speaker unit and an audio mixer, alongside bags containing clothing seized by investigators.
Deputy Police Chief Agus Susanto explained that the office, which should serve as an administrative centre for departmental services, was instead misused by the suspect to gather the interns for karaoke.
“The suspect invited the three victims, who were conducting their internships at the agency where he works, to perform karaoke in his office,” said Agus.
Rather than merely singing, the karaoke sessions in the closed room were allegedly a tactic used by the suspect to carry out his indecent acts against the students under his authority.
“During these karaoke activities, the physical and non-physical criminal acts of harassment took place,” Agus explained.
He further disclosed that the physical abuse involved the suspect sitting on the victims and groping them, alongside the use of vulgar language.
The Sukabumi Police Criminal Investigation Unit has now detained TIP in the police headquarters’ cell. Due to the abuse of facilities and his official position, the Echelon III/a official faces charges under Article 6 letter c and/or Article 5 of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS), carrying heavy penalties for the abuse of authority against minors.