Where Is Emon?
This is an opinion column reflecting the personal views of the writer and not the stance of the editorial board.
ANDRI Sobari. An ordinary name. However, when combined with “alias Emon”, a different sensation emerges.
Especially when added with “child sexual abuser”, the public reaction is genuinely represented by a mother’s cry during a child protection discussion at a prominent school in South Jakarta: “That’s appalling!”
There is fear mixed with anger behind that exclamation and curse.
Where is the location of this predator now? Roaming which village? The word is that Emon has returned to Sukabumi City, a city known as child-friendly.
Emon the predator is now being monitored by whom? The effects of rehabilitation, if any, last only a few years. After that, the risk of reoffending increases.
Previously, through Kompas TV, I was introduced to Emon. His entire head was covered in sebum. Except for both eyes. The whites were tainted with blood vessels and red patches. His eyelids were greyish. It is unclear what had struck him.
To me, Emon said, “After my release, I want to become a dangdut singer or a religious teacher at a pesantren.”
Emon’s small physical frame also made children willing to be manipulated by a figure they considered a trusted friend.
Well, as merely a muezzin, Emon was already capable of building a ‘noble’ reputation. Similarly, as a dangdut singer, Emon would obviously have a stage to demonstrate his grooming power in the most devastating manner.
Yet, it is precisely that charm, not claws and fangs, that predators often use to target their victims.
Moreover, Emon has a remarkable memory. Here is how it can be described:
How many victims did Emon have? Many. Hundreds of people. I cannot recall the exact number. Clearly, my memory falls far short compared to Emon’s.
The police have verified that Emon can memorise by heart the names of children, locations, and times of incidents, from the first victim to the fiftieth.
In that regard, Emon appears to be competing with Jeffrey Epstein and Reynhard Sinaga, who were also diligent in documenting their heinous acts.