Why Bandung Captivity Victim Found It Difficult to Escape

The alleged case of confinement and abuse experienced by a woman with the initials YTR (29) in Bandung Regency, West Java, has drawn public attention. The victim was allegedly held by her boyfriend, Taufik Hidayat, for three years and suffered serious physical injuries.

When found, YTR’s condition was extremely concerning. She was at risk of losing her eyesight, sustained injuries to her upper lip from being cut with scissors, and had numerous scars from burns and beatings on her hands and feet.

A psychologist from the University of 17 August 1945 (UNTAG) Surabaya, Dr Amanda Pasca Rini, revealed that victims typically do not find it easy to escape such situations. One of the causes is a condition called tonic immobility, a freezing response resulting from severe shock that emerges after the victim experiences repeated traumatic events.

‘Victims tend to experience tonic immobility, or a state of paralysis due to severe shock from relentless traumatic events. Tonic immobility is a biological reflex response where a person suddenly freezes, unable to move, speak, or fight back when facing extreme fear or intense trauma,’ Dr Amanda said when contacted by Republika on Tuesday (23/6/2026).

Additionally, Amanda assessed that power relations within the relationship also play a significant role. According to her, the dominance exerted by the perpetrator can place the victim in an inferior position, making it difficult to make decisions to fight back or flee.

‘Moreover, power relations serve to dominate, rendering the victim inferior,’ said Dr Amanda, who also serves as Vice Rector I of the University of 17 August 1945 Surabaya for the 2026-2029 period.

It is known that the victim YTR first met the perpetrator at a concert in Bandung in 2023. After entering into a relationship with the perpetrator, the victim reportedly began to change and gradually lost contact with her family.

This serves as a reminder that women need to be more cautious when entering new relationships. According to Amanda, there are several signs of a toxic relationship that must be heeded to prevent similar cases from occurring.