Man charged for hitting wife who scolded him for watching porn acquitted in court

The Deli Serdang District Court in North Sumatra yesterday reconciled a husband and wife involved in a domestic abuse case through termination of persecution or restorative justice.

The suspect, identified as 43-year-old AH, had been previously detained by the police for several months before he was acquitted during the prosecutor’s investigation stage. Jabal Nur, who heads Deli Serdang District Attorney’s Office, said that AH was charged with domestic abuse.

AH, a resident of a village in thr Medan Sunggal district of Deli Serdang regency, reportedly physically assaulted his wife, identified as 31-year-old EW, after she reprimanded him for frequently watching porn.

“So the suspect is the victim’s husband, he didn’t accept being scolded by his wife because he often watched pornographic films, looking at photos of sexy women. He threw a glass cup but it didn’t get her, because he was still angry the suspect assaulted the victim by pulling her hair, hitting her head, and slapping his wife in the face,” Jabal said yesterday.

Jabal explained that the restorative justice action was carried out as the victim still depends on the suspect. 

“He also acts as the head of the house and the breadwinner for his family. There was reconciliation between the suspect and victim. Those are the points that made the prosecutors stop the prosecution process against the suspect, his wife and their extended family were present too.”

After his verdict was read out, the prisoner’s clothes worn by AH were removed. He was seen prostrating in gratitude and immediately apologized to his wife. 

He was previously charged with violation of Indonesia’s Elimination of Domestic Violence law, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison or a fine of IDR15 million (US$1,046).
Additionally, Yos Tarigan, who heads the Legal Information Section at the North Sumatra High Court, said that the restorative justice option taken by the Deli Serdang District Court was approved by the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office — alongside two other cases being handled by local attorney’s offices in the province.