Teenager in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara Arrested After Allegedly Raping and Killing Junior High School Student
A 16-year-old boy with the initials FRG has been arrested by police after allegedly raping and killing a junior high school student with the initials STN (14) in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Sikka Police Chief AKBP Bambang Supeno stated that the alleged sexual assault and murder took place on Friday, 20 February in the afternoon, at approximately 15:30 local time.
He said the victim was allegedly forced by the perpetrator to engage in sexual relations before being killed.
“It started when the victim visited the suspect’s house on Friday (20 February) to retrieve her guitar. At that time, no one was home as the suspect’s parents were not there,” said Bambang when confirmed by CNNIndonesia.com on Sunday, 1 March.
After forcing the victim to have sexual relations, Bambang said the perpetrator then ended her life to prevent the heinous act from being reported.
“The perpetrator panicked after having sexual relations with the victim, so he rashly decided to kill her,” said Bambang.
Bambang stated that the victim was allegedly abused by the perpetrator using a machete on several parts of the body. As a result of this abuse, the victim died.
After committing the murder, the perpetrator then hid the victim’s body behind his house and covered it with taro leaves.
Afterwards, the perpetrator attempted to destroy evidence by moving the junior high school student’s body to the Watuwoga River, which was not far from the crime scene.
The victim’s body was only discovered by local residents on Monday, 23 February.
From police investigation, the case then pointed to the perpetrator FRG. When apprehended, said Bambang, FRG was attempting to flee to Ende District.
“The suspect was arrested by the Sikka Police’s mobile operation team in Wolotopo, Ende District, one day after the victim’s body was discovered, that is on Tuesday (24 February),” explained Bambang.
“There is no involvement of any other party (in the murder case); the perpetrator is only one person and we have already arrested him,” he asserted.
Due to his age as a minor, Bambang explained that the interrogation process was accompanied by competent parties.
FRG is currently being held in detention at Sikka Police’s holding facility.
“Although the suspect is being held, his rights as a child are still being fulfilled,” explained Bambang.
Bambang explained that in this case police have confiscated several pieces of evidence such as a machete and the victim’s sandals, the perpetrator’s clothing, and the victim’s mobile phone.
“For his actions, FRG is charged under Article 473 paragraph (2) letter b of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code as well as Article 80 paragraph (3) of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection,” explained Bambang.