The criminal investigation unit of Buleleng Police in North Bali reportedly arrested an 18 year old for allegedly molesting a minor.
Police are investigating Francisco Joshua alia Frans, 18, and claims that he molested a girl identified in reports by her initials, LH, 14.
“We caught the perpetrator because we previously received a report from the victim’s family that their daughter did not come home and it was known that the perpetrator invited her somewhere,” Ketut Adnyana Tunggal Jaya of Buleleng Criminal Police told Antara Bali on Tuesday.
Jaya says it all started on Saturday when LH contacted Frans through BBM messenger to pick her up in front of a discotheque in the tourist area of Lovina. Furthermore, Jaya says LH asked Frans if she could stay at his used clothing shop in Banjar Dinas Celuk Buluh in Kalkibukbuk Village.
“Then that’s where the intercourse happened,” Jaya told Antara Bali.
However, though reports are referring to this a molestation, Jaya says that a police investigation has revealed no clear signs of coercion when the victim was made to undress and that LH went along with Frans’ orders to strip.
But LH’s parents were not willing to let the incident go: “they do not accept this… their child is still a minor,” and they reported Frans to the police, Jaya explained.
And Antara’s report on this was a bit murky, but Jaya also apparently alluded to the possibility that there may be another young man who helped Frans overpower the victim, but the police have not fully explored that option yet.
If Frans does get convicted for child molestation, he could get a minimum penalty of five and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, according to Antara.
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