Police in Semarang, Central Java have arrested a man on suspicion of having raped his own daughter and causing physical damage resulting in the victim’s death.
Authorities have identified the suspect as the 8-year-old victim’s biological father. The suspect, 41-year-old WD, lived alone in a kost (boarding home) and often had his three children, including the victim, over for a visit.
Police said on March 18, the victim was alone with her father at his kost.
“The suspect had the desire [to rape] when he saw his daughter had fallen asleep watching TV,” Semarang Police Crime Investigation Unit Chief Donny Lombantoruan said yesterday.
The child had seizures following the rape. WD brought her to a nearby clinic, who recommended that she be taken to a nearby hospital.
Sadly, the little girl was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Her body was buried as soon as possible as per local customs. Her grave was exhumed on March 19 after her mother reported her suspicions towards WD to the police.
An examination revealed wounds consistent with sexual abuse on the victim’s body.
Police soon arrested WD, who not only confessed to raping the victim on March 18, but on two previous occasions in the past two weeks as well.
In a police press conference for the case yesterday, WD told reporters, “I often watch porn. The desire emerged when she was sleeping. I did not threaten her.”
WD has been charged with sexual abuse under Indonesia’s Child Protection Law. In the case that the victim dies from the abuse, the law states that the assailant may be given the death penalty.
