The Jakarta Metro Police has arrested a Quran teacher in Beji, Depok on suspicion of molesting 10 young girls — all of whom are his students.
Police said the suspect, identified as 52-year-old MMS, molested girls aged 10-15 between October and December 2021.
“But most of them were 10-year-old girls,” Jakarta Metro Police spokesman Endra Zulpan said during a press conference yesterday.
“The Quran recital would go from 5pm until the sunset call to prayer. [The recital] was held in an assembly hall [at the school], and in that same room, he carried out the molestation.”
MMS confessed to having intimidated his victims to perform acts for his sexual pleasure. Police said he often gave them IDR10K (US$0.70) to keep quiet.
However, one victim told her parents about the abuse, and later notified other victims’ parents. They then filed a report with the local police, leading to MMS’ arrest on Sunday in his home.
With 70 students entrusted to him, police are open to the possibility that more victims would come forward in the near future.
Police noted that the suspect has two wives and grown children, one of whom is in their 20s. He had no records of any prior sexual crimes.
MMS has been charged with multiple violations of Indonesia’s Child Protection Act, and may face up to 15 years in prison for every count of raping a minor.
Last week, an Islamic boarding school teacher stood trial for allegedly raping at least a dozen of his students, aged 16 to 17, since 2016. His victims have reportedly given birth to nine babies, with two more on the way.
