One of the leaders of an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Bandung, West Java is standing trial for allegedly raping at least 12 teenage girls, the prosecutor said this week, four of whom became pregnant and gave birth.
The suspect, a 36-year-old man identified by his initials HW, was accused of assaulting them on various occasions from 2016, prosecutor Yohanes Purnomo Suryo Adi said. The victims, aged 16 to 17, reportedly testified in court during yesterday’s hearing. All of them attended the same boarding school.
“[Based on the trial], one of the victims had given birth twice because of what the defendant did,” Yohanes said.
HW was not only on the leadership board of the pesantren but also taught some of the students. According to reports, the rape incidents took place at various locations, including the school and hotels in the area. Local media outlets are reporting different numbers of victims, with earlier reports putting it at 14 girls.
HW, who is currently detained, faces multiple charges under Indonesia’s Child Protection Law, including rape and violence against children. They carry a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect the disparity in the number of victims reported by various sources.
