The Depok Police arrested two people suspected of facilitating prostitution is with minors yesterday morning. The suspects have been identified as 39-year-old Mursalih, alias Sherli, and 40-year-old Ocha.
Disturbingly, police have reported that Ocha is the stepmother of a 17-year-old girl, identified as NF, who allegedly worked for Mursalih as a prostitute.
“After an intensive investigation, the perpetrators, Mursalih and Ocha, have been named suspects. Both have admitted to the practice of facilitating prostitution involving minors,” Depok Police Commissioner Teguh Nugroho on Wednesday as quoted by Kompas.
Police say the investigation began after they received troubling reports of prostitution taking place at Mursalih’s residence. After conducting surveillance, they raided Mursalih’s house on Monday night.
At that time, police detained Mursalih and four underage girls. The four said they were employed by Mursalih to serve his clients.
Mursalih claimed to employ NF at the request of her stepmother, Ocha. After learning that, police arrested Ocha in the Citayam region of Depok on Wednesday morning.
“The status of NF is that she is still a witness. Because she was trafficked by her stepmother,” said Teguh.
Ocha denied the accusations that she pimped out her stepdaughter, telling reporters that she knew NF was going out with her friends all the time but had no idea she was working as a prostitute.
Both suspects are currently being held at Depok Police headquarters. Among. If they are found guilty of facilitating the prostitution of minors, they could receive up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp 200 million.
