Twelve Arrested in Sampang Gang Rape Case, One Caught Fleeing to Surabaya

A 15-year-old girl in Sampang has become the victim of a gang rape perpetrated by 27 men. One of the suspects was arrested on a bus while attempting to flee to Surabaya. A video of the arrest went viral on social media, showing the suspect being detained while seated in the middle of the bus. The suspect initially denied involvement, but police, who had matched his photograph, proceeded to arrest him and forced him off the bus. Sampang Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head Iptu Nur Fajri Alim confirmed that the suspect apprehended by the Rapid Reaction Unit is a 42-year-old Sampang resident with the initial R. The arrest took place on 2 July 2026 at around 9 p.m. Western Indonesian Time. After hearing about the arrest of seven other suspects, the man attempted to escape to Surabaya. Prior to the bus arrest, police had raided the suspect’s home and discovered he had recently fled. To date, twelve perpetrators have been arrested, and police are still pursuing the remaining fifteen suspects who are at large.