Wife of Ashari, Suspect in Sexual Violence Against Pesantren Female Students in Pati, Questioned by Police

Semarang, Central Java – The Head of Public Relations for Central Java Police (Polisi Daerah Jawa Tengah, Polda Jateng), Kombes Pol Artanto, revealed that 17 witnesses have been questioned in the case of alleged sexual violence against santriwati by Ashari bin Karsana, founder of Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo in Kabupaten Pati. One of those questioned is Ashari’s wife.

Artanto said that currently the Ditres PPA-PPO (Directorate of Crimes Against Women and Children and Eradication of Human Trafficking) of the Central Java Police is involved in the case. However, Polresta Pati continues to assist in the investigation, including opening a reporting post for any other suspected victims who wish to report Ashari.

“Witnesses examined include 16 people: the victim, the victim’s parents, the pondok pesantren, the suspect’s aide A, the wife of the accused, guardians of the santri, and in total 16,” Artanto said in an interview at the Central Java Police Headquarters in Semarang on Monday (18 May 2026). He added that the police have also taken statements from experts in criminal law and religion, including visum et repertum. “The police have also conducted a psychiatric examination to assess the psychological impact on the victim,” he said.

Artanto revealed that the psychiatric examination was conducted only for the victim identified by initials A. Ashari has also been reported by another potential victim in a similar case to Polresta Pati. However, the spokesman said the complainant has not yet been questioned or undergone a psychiatric examination.