DPR Highlights Alleged Child Exploitation In Delta Spa Therapist Death Case

JAKARTA - Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Gilang Dhielafararez, highlighted the case of the death of the Delta Spa therapist with the initials RTA (14) in Pejaten, South Jakarta, which allegedly involved the practice of exploitation of children and the use of false identities. Gilang asked the police and prosecutors to immediately complete the investigation and process all parties proven to have violated the law, especially underage recruiters.

"In this case, firm law enforcement is needed against all parties involved, both recruiters, institutional management, and those who facilitate the recruitment of minors," Gilang told reporters, Monday, November 3.

Gilang emphasized that there is no tolerance for violations of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) and the Child Protection Law. He also emphasized the importance of a transparent and accountable legal process for victims to get justice.

"Child protection should not be mere formality. The state must ensure that every recruitment process or work for minors is strictly monitored," said Gilang.

"Investigate the case of death of this underage therapist, and if there is an intention, take firm action against recruiters who employ minors. This is also related to the practice of human trafficking that must be dealt with," he continued.

Gilang also regretted the weak supervision of the recruitment mechanism by the spa management so that it was not known that the victim was still a minor and used his relative's identity.

"This case is an important alarm that the mechanism for recruiting minors, in this case, through the use of a relative ID card, is still possible, even in institutions engaged in the service sector," said Gilang.

Furthermore, the member of the House of Representatives Commission in charge of legal affairs emphasized the importance of evaluating recruitment procedures at service institutions. Including, said Gilang, the role of recruiters, company management, as well as monitoring the use of social media as a recruitment route, so as not to become a means of exploitation.

"This case serves as a reminder that law enforcement must be preventive as well as repressive, with a focus on protecting victims and preventing similar practices in the future," said the legislator from the Central Java II electoral district.

Gilang also encouraged cross-ministerial coordination, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA), the Ministry of Manpower, and the Ministry of Education, to ensure that child protection standards are enforced. At the same time providing education to families and the public so as not to become victims of manipulation of illegal identity and recruitment systems.

"The RTA case serves as a reminder that exploitation of children is a multidimensional problem that requires firm legal action, sustainable social supervision, and synergy between state institutions and society," explained Gilang.

Gilang ensured that Commission III of the DPR RI was ready to oversee the legal process in this case. Commission III of the DPR will also provide stricter regulatory recommendations to prevent exploitation of children, while ensuring that law enforcement runs consistently and fairly.

"The DPR RI through Commission III is ready to oversee the legal process and encourage a more preventive and systematic policy of child protection so that similar tragedy does not repeat itself," he concluded.

As reported, the South Jakarta Metro Police are still investigating the death of a female therapist with the initials RTA (14) in an empty land in Pejaten, South Jakarta. The police are also still investigating the cause of RTA's death whose body was found on Thursday, October 2, at 05.00 WIB, as well as allegations of exploitation in the process of recruiting victims as underage therapists.

The police will ask for information from the management of Delta Spa to the recruiters to explore the information provided by the victim's brother. This is because the victim's brother (F) said that his sister had to pay a fine of Rp. 50 million if she wanted to leave her job.

In this case of public concern, the police are currently investigating the alleged violation of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO). The process of examining witnesses is still being carried out by South Jakarta Metro Police investigators to explore the criminal element in this case.

On the other hand, the police said that Delta Spa admitted that they did not know that the victim was a minor. The reason is, the victim used an ID card belonging to his relative, SA, who was 24 years old when registering as a therapist at Delta Spa.

The plan is that the police will immediately summon the relative of the victim whose ID card is used to apply for a job as well as the Delta Spa recruitment party. Based on police investigation, the victim applied for a job as a therapist at Delta Spa because he was interested after seeing his friend who was broadcasting live on TikTok.