Religious Leader Suspected of Sexual Violence in Bangkalan Pesantren Released to the Prosecutor's Office

SURABAYA - The East Java Regional Police has handed over a suspect in a case of alleged sexual violence that dragged a religious figure (lora) in Bangkalan with the initials UF to the local District Attorney after the case file was declared complete or P21 by the public prosecutor.

"For the file of the suspect UF, thank God it has been declared P21 by the prosecutor's office. This means that the file is complete," said the Director of Women and Children Protection and Eradication of Human Trafficking (PPA-PPO) of the East Java Police, Kombes Ganis Setyaningrum, as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, April 6.

On the same day, investigators carried out Phase II in the form of handing over the suspects and evidence to the Bangkalan District Attorney's Office.

Phase II is a continuation of the process after the case file is declared complete in both formal and material terms by the public prosecutor.

In addition to UF, investigators also named another suspect with the initials S. However, the case file for suspect S is still being investigated by prosecutors and is awaiting further instructions so that it can be immediately declared complete (P21) and transferred to the next stage.

The suspect UF is known to have been detained at the East Java Regional Police State Detention Center (Rutan) for approximately 117 days.

Meanwhile, the victim in this case has received protection and assistance from a number of institutions, including the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

Investigators are also continuing to develop the case to anticipate the possibility of other victims in the case of alleged sexual violence involving local religious figures (lora) in Bangkalan.

This case previously surfaced after there were reports of alleged sexual violence that dragged figures who had influence in the pesantren environment in the local district.

"We will provide further developments," he said.