The suspect in the rape of a child in Sampang has increased to 13 people, 14 others are still being sought.

JAKARTA - The Sampang Police, East Java, arrested a perpetrator of sexual violence against children, bringing the number of suspects in the case to 13.

"The suspect we arrested has the initials W (17), a resident of Sampang," said Sampang Police Chief AKBP Hartono, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 13.

Hartono explained that the suspect was arrested on Monday (13/7) while in Sampang Square when he was about to buy food. The arrest was an expansion of the investigation of a case that had previously ensnared 12 suspects.

Previously, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Sampang Police had secured 12 suspects, namely AR (17), MH (17), MA (15), AP (15), D (16), MR (17), R (42), MHA (13), MFS (13), AS (14), F (25), and AP (15).

All suspects are suspected of violating Article 473 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment, Article 20 of Law Number 11 of 2012, and Article 82 paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

The victim in this case is a 15-year-old child. The police suspect that the crime was committed by 27 perpetrators.

The incident began in February 2026 when the victim was alone in the Suhadak Street area, Sampang City. The victim was then introduced, persuaded, threatened, and forced to follow the desires of the perpetrators.

The police also suspect that the victim was given alcohol before experiencing sexual violence.

According to Hartono, the alleged criminal acts occurred in three locations, namely Panggung Village, Sampang District, Astapah Village, Omben District, and Madupat Village, Camplong District.

In the disclosure of the case, the police arrested seven suspects on June 30, two suspects on July 2, one suspect on July 3, and two suspects in the subsequent arrest, bringing the number of suspects to 12.

With the arrest of W, the number of suspects who have been secured has become 13 people. Meanwhile, 14 other perpetrators are still being pursued.

Hartono appealed to parents to increase supervision of children and asked the perpetrators who are still at large to immediately surrender to the police.