Victims Of Sexual Harassment Agus Bentung Reach Dozens: He Deserves To Be Labeled A Kakap Class Recidivist

JAKARTA The case of sexual harassment by a disabled man with the initials IWAS alias Agus Bentung in Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara has attracted public attention. Forensic psychologist Reza Indragiri Amriel said IWAS was not a criminal yesterday afternoon, referring to the number of victims who reached dozens.

I Wayan Agus Suartama (IWAS) or who is familiarly called Agus Bentung suddenly became the attention of the public throughout Indonesia. This disabled man has been named a suspect for a sexual assault case. Unmitigated, said the police, there were already 15 people who reported as victims, some of whom were even minors.

Agus initially tricked the victim through seduction, or so-calledangrooming behavior, as explained by Reza Indragiri Amriel. After the victim was deceived through his seduction, then Agus launched his action, committing sexual violence.

Reza even referred to Agus as a recidivist, referring to the dozens of victims. He could not see Agus as the perpetrator of the crime yesterday afternoon or the perpetrator of sexual crimes.

"Because there are 15 victims, he deserves to be called a big recidivist, who should receive extra treatment," said Reza.

Previously, Agus was reported to the police by a student for sexual harassment. This case actually surfaced for the first time in October 2024. However, at that time the public doubted the report, because of Agus' condition as a disabled person.

After the report, the police team conducted an investigation. Agus was also named a suspect by the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the NTB Police and the case was in the public spotlight.

To date, there are 15 women, including minors, who have reported as victims of sexual violence Agus. In carrying out his actions, Agus used a trick to manipulate through verbal communication that could affect the victim's emotions.

Seeing this case, with the number of victims reaching dozens of people, forensic psychologist Reza Indragiri Amriel called Agus a recidivist. Reza revealed that there is a difference in the definition of recidivism in terms of law and forensic psychology.

In terms of forensic psychology, recidivist is a repeat of evil acts, regardless of how many times he has been in and out of prison.

"The mention of recidivist for IWAS is not determined based on the number of times in and out of prison, but how many victims," Reza told VOI.

"That there is more than one victim, we cannot see IWAS, the perpetrator of the crime yesterday afternoon or the perpetrator of sexual crimes. The victim is 15 people, worthy of being called a high-profile recidivist who should receive extra treatment," he continued.

Sexual violence committed by people with disabilities Agus proves that the mode of sexual violence is increasingly complex. In this case, IWAS is said to be holding behavior to conquer its target.

For this reason, Reza encourages all people to be aware of people who have friendly actions, behave politely, even people who take advantage of their body conditions to take care of them.

"In so many cases of sexual violence, the way it is done is to make us truly complacent and later will be surprised when we become victims of sexual violence. For that we must remain vigilant in dealing with anyone," he said.

Later, news emerged that IWAS alias Agus asked for mercy and for his case to be resolved peacefully. In criminal proceedings, said Reza, the defendant's disability condition could be a mitigating sentence if he was convicted.

But if you think about it again, it is strongly indicated that IWAS actually makes its disability an instrument of crime. He takes advantage of the stereotypes that people build, a stereotype that is wrong, that disability conditions make it impossible for individuals to think let alone commit crimes.

"IWAS took advantage of external conditions to seize the sense of compassion and trust of the target (victim), then he betrayed the sympathy of women by then taking care of them," he explained.

Therefore, instead of mitigating, Reza assessed that the use of disability conditions in such a way by IWAS could be burdensome. Especially if judges dive into the heavy burdens that victims experience. Most, sexual crimes are seen as one of the toughest crimes.

In psychology, it is known asumi (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) or post-traumatic stress disorder. This term is used to show that this is not an ordinary stress, but a stress characterized by a very severe shock experienced by people who are traumatized.

However, according to Reza, some experts think the term status is still not representative enough to take pictures of the suffering of victims of sexual violence. Because scientists believe that the psychological impact is much greater, than other types of trauma.

That's why instead of using the term suhu, scientists use RTS (rape trauma syndrome) to show that those who are victims of sexual violence, both children and adults, men or women, experience devastating shocks that cannot be compared to other types of trauma.

Seeing the three things that have been explained, namely the betrayal of the victim's sympathy, the effects of mental shocks experienced by the victim, and the large number of victims, Reza emphasized that it was unrealistic that IWAS was a legal strategy with a target for acquittal, even though he was with a disability.

"What is realistic is that the judge strives to lighten the criminal sentence. For that realistic purpose, it is clear that the basic requirement is that IWAS must admit its evil deeds," he said.

'Recognizing mistakes, still young, polite in court, and having a versatile variety. That is an 'ammunition' that IWAS should bring to the courtroom to increase its chances of escaping from the needle,' Reza concluded.