A teacher in Purwokerto, Central Java, identified by his initials LK, is now a criminal suspect for child abuse after a video of him slapping one of his students hard (as well as a bizarre explanation video trying to justify his actions) went viral last week.
LK was detained for his own safety last Thursday after a number of local ormas (civil society groups) were angered by the slapping video. Even though the school said the issue was resolved through mediation between the involved parties, several of the alleged victims’ parents (LK has been accused of slapping nine of his students in total) have filed reports with the police, leading to LK officially being named a suspect on Saturday.
“So if we look at the potential punishment for the teacher, whose actions violated Article 80 of Law no. 35/2014 (on Child Protection), he could face up to 3 years and 6 months in prison,” said Banyumas Regency Police Chief Bambang Yudhantara Salamun, as quoted by Kumparan.
The police said LK’s actions constituted child abuse and that they are investigating the case further by interviewing the alleged victims and parents.
The video, which went viral last week, was taken in a classroom at the Kesantrian Vocational High School (SMK) in the town of Purwokerto, Banyuwangi Regency, Central Java. According to the school’s account, the incident took place recently during the morning Computer Network Engineering class taught by LK. A student, identified as L, entered the class late so LK told him to stand in front of his peers to receive his punishment.
As can be seen in the video, LK creepily brushes the side of L’s face with his hand a few times before pulling back to deliver what looks like an incredibly vicious slap.
As outrage over the short clip grew as it grew more viral on social media, the Banyumas Police got involved and learned of 8 other students who were reportedly also assaulted by LK.
It’s unclear when exactly the below recording was made but at some point LK realized there was the potential for the slap video to go viral and so he made his own video to “clarify” his actions (and presumably get himself out of legal trouble).
In the 5-minute video, LK admits to hitting several of his students (who he says were his “victims”) and even says that he hit them on purpose and with clear intention.
LK then goes around asking the students, “Do you feel like I intimidate you?” Big surprise, they tell him “No, sir.”
There have been numerous stories about both teachers abusing students and students attacking teachers, which is indicative of a larger culture of violence within Indonesian schools (another example being large scale and sometimes deadly brawls that take place between gangs from different schools).
As brutal as LK’s slap may have looked, it’s arguably not even the worst punishment from a teacher we’ve seen this year. Just last month, a teacher in Cempedak Lobang village, North Sumatra, ordered an elementary student to lick an absolutely disgusting toilet several times as punishment for forgetting their homework, causing the child to vomit.
