A 68-year-old man identified by his initials BR from Pekalongan, Central Java has been charged with criminal negligence for botching the circumcision of a young boy — which he carried out despite not having a medical license.
BR, a mantri (a local term for those who perform circumcisions and other medical procedures outside of a medical practice), allegedly cut off the boy’s penis glans by accident while he was performing the circumcision at the boy’s home on Aug. 30. BR was arrested and has been in police custody since Friday.
“The suspect does not even have an STR (administrative medical requirement) nor a medical practice permit. This is clearly illegal,” Pekalongan Police Chief Wawan Kurniawan told reporters this morning, as quoted by Detik.
According to the police, the boy’s father was the one who sought BR’s services for his son’s circumcision. BR also claimed that he has been performing circumcisions for years and had just recently returned from retirement due to demand from locals.
BR told the police that he has been using his main surgical tool — an electric cauterizer — since 2002 without any mishaps. He claims he was not aware that he was cutting off the boy’s penis glans at the time because he was writhing in pain as any boy normally would.
“I only found out it was cut as I was tidying up his genitalia,” he said today, as quoted by Detik.
Sadly for the boy, the police today also confirmed that his penis glans was not able to be reattached.
Most Indonesian boys, especially Muslims, remember their circumcisions because they are often carried out when they are around five years old or before the onset of puberty. Many remember the operation with a certain fondness, since circumcisions are traditionally a rite of passage into manhood rewarded with parties and presents.
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