Police in Bali’s Buleleng regency have arrested an orphanage director and priest, identified by his initials KP, who allegedly sexually assaulted children under his care for years.
Buleleng Police spokesman I Gede Sumarjaya confirmed to Detik yesterday that an investigation by the Women and Child Protection Unit (PPA) revealed that KP had sexually assaulted at least three children since 2011.
“From PPA’s investigation, there was enough evidence of alleged sexual assault on three children,” Sumarjaya explained, adding that 10 children had come forward as victims.
Police identified several of the victims by their initials S, R and N, who were 12, 14, and 16 years old at the time of the alleged assault. The youngest of the three victims, S, is now 20 years old.
According to Jawa Pos, KP was a legislative candidate from Hanura for the 2019 Regional Legislative Council (DPRD).
In June, a number of KP’s alleged victims reportedly agreed to give statements to the police about the abuse at the orphanage, which is located in Buleleng. Most of the victims had reportedly been reluctant to do so because they are still traumatized from the abuse they’d received and also out of fear.
Gede Anggastia from Buleleng’s Community Development Supervisory Board told local media then that one of KP’s victims had even gotten pregnant and was forced to leave the orphanage and abort her pregnancy. She was reportedly promised four piglets to finish the task.
“He would force himself on them by persuading and flattering the victims,” Sumarjaya said yesterday.
Under Indonesia’s Law on Child Protection, KP faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
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