Gowa Police Denies News Of Child Prisoners Persecuted In Cells

The Gowa Police have denied allegations of child abuse in the Bontomaranu Police detention cell, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi.

"From the results of the medical examination, there were no signs of abuse, but the child with the initials F (16) was suffering from fever and severe flu," said Head of the Public Relations Section of the Gowa Police, Aipda Udin Sipadu, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 7.

Previously, it was rumored that child detention entrusted by the Gowa District Attorney (Kejari) was sick in the stomach due to being merged with adult prisoners at the local police cell.

Responding to the information circulating, Gowa Police Chief AKBP Reonal TS Simanjuntak immediately gave attention and ordered Sidokkes and Kaur Bin Operations (KBO) Gowa Police Satreskrim to immediately conduct a medical examination and check the accuracy of the information.

Udin said the KBO of the Gowa Police General Investigation and Crime Unit had checked the truth whether there were allegations of criminal acts of abuse, including carrying out medical examinations of the condition concerned, but the facts were not true.

"From his statement to members, he has never experienced persecution from either fellow detainees or members of the National Police. It is true that he is sick with fever and flu," he said.

After receiving treatment, two children who were in conflict with the law initials F and other child detainees H were picked up by the Gowa Kejari to be transferred to a safe place while waiting for the court process. The clarification is considered important to avoid hoax or untrue information.

From the information received, the two child detainees have been transferred to the Gowa Special Child Development Institute (LPKA), which was previously suspected of being merged with adult prisoners at the local police cell.

Previously, F was suspected of being involved in a beating case with two of his colleagues RE (26) and MA (23) with two victims with the initials AS (25) and BS (23) at the minimarket in Songgumanai Village, Pattallassang District, Gowa on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at around 18.00 WITA.

Due to this incident, the victim AS died allegedly after being stabbed by the perpetrator RE while the other BS suffered bruises on his body. After the incident, the Jatanras Unit of the Gowa Police immediately conducted an investigation and development until he managed to arrest the perpetrators.