Suspect in Sexual Assault Case in Belu, NTT, Arrested in Timor Leste

The Belu Police, East Nusa Tenggara, has detained one suspect in a case of sexual assault involving a 16-year-old child that occurred on January 9th, 2026. The suspect, identified as RM (22), had fled to Timor Leste and was arrested on Monday, February 23rd.

“Today, RM, who was previously on the wanted list, was detained at 2:30 PM after undergoing questioning,” said the Head of Public Relations at the Belu Police, IPTU Agus Haryono, on Wednesday, February 25th.

The other suspect, PK (23), a former contestant on Indonesian Idol 2025, was not detained. “He was not detained due to his cooperative attitude during questioning. His parents will act as guarantors during the investigation process, and he is required to report to the Child and Women Protection Unit (PPA) at the Belu Police twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday,” he said.

The other suspect, RS, has not yet responded to the police summons and will be summoned again.

“RS will be summoned for the second time,” he explained.

In this case, investigators at the Belu Police have applied Article 473, paragraph (4) of the Criminal Code, as amended by Law Number 1 of 2026 on the Amendment of Criminal Law, or Article 81, paragraph (2) of Indonesian Law Number 17 of 2016 on Child Protection, with a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, as well as Article 415, letter b of the Criminal Code, with a maximum prison sentence of 9 years. (PO)

The incident allegedly involved sexual intercourse or indecent acts while the victim was not fully conscious. The Belu Police, East Nusa Tenggara, has named three suspects in a case of alleged sexual assault against a child at the Setia Hotel in Atambua, Belu Regency, one of whom is a contestant from Indonesian Idol.