Teenager arrested for sexual assault

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

A 16-year-old junior high school student was arrested on Sunday for the alleged rape or sexual assault of 13 elementary school boys and two girls in Cirebon.

The resident of Tanah Baru village, Kesambi district, is currently being interrogated at Cirebon Police Headquarters. He cannot be named due to his age.

He will be charged with breaking Child Protection Laws and is facing up to 15 years in jail and a fine of between Rp 60 million (about US$7,300) and Rp 300 million.

"We have received reports that 15 children have become his victims, most of them are students (from one school)," Cirebon Police chief detective for criminal affairs Adj. Comr. Taufik Asrori said.

The teenager admitted to attacking 10 boys and two girls.

"There were some kids that I was about to sexually assault but in the end I didn't do it," he said, saying he first began his offending two years ago.

He said he usually persuaded his victims by promising them toys or snacks.

He admitted he himself was the victim of sexual offending by his neighbor when he was still in his second year at elementary school.

The father of the one of the alleged victims said his son had told him two week earlier that he had been sexually assaulted.

"But I only believed him yesterday after I asked him again.

"I know (the offender's) family. They're good people. I often see (the offender) going to the mosque and he looks normal to me."

Taufik said that since it was a sensitive case, the police had deployed special officers to investigate the case.

"Since both the victims and the suspect are underage, our investigation process will be different from normal crime cases."