Yogyakarta Police Refrain from Detaining Two Daycare Abuse Suspects

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Yogyakarta Police Resort (Polresta) Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) has not detained two suspects in the child abuse case at Daycare Little Aresha, Sorosutan, Umbulharjo.

Head of the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) at Polresta Yogyakarta, Iptu Apri Sawitri, stated on Thursday that the two suspects were not detained because one is four months pregnant and the other has a four-month-old baby.

“In the second phase, we named 19 suspects. From the first batch of 14 suspects, we detained 13 people. One person was not detained because she is four months pregnant,” she said.

“For the second phase, a summons was issued for 28 July, and four suspects complied. Of those four, three were detained, and one was not detained because she has a four-month-old baby.”

She further explained that since the police raid on 25 April 2026, a total of 32 suspects have been named and 157 victims identified in the handling of the alleged child abuse case at Daycare Little Aresha.

In the first phase, Polresta named 13 suspects, comprising one foundation head, one school principal, and 11 caregivers.

“The case files have reached stage two, meaning they have been transferred to the Yogyakarta District Prosecutor’s Office, along with the suspects and evidence,” she said.

On 24 July 2026, an additional five suspects were named, consisting of two caregivers, two kindergarten teachers, and one housekeeping staff member.

Iptu Apri stated that the 19 suspects in the second phase are charged under four articles: Article 77, Article 76B, Article 76C, and Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.

“Regarding the criminal penalties, under the Child Protection Law, neglect and discrimination carry a maximum sentence of five years, while violence carries a sentence of 3.5 years,” she said.