Dean Of FISIP Riau University Suspect In Sexual Harassment Case Arrested

Head of the Riau High Court Jaja Subagja/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

PEKANBARU - The Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the University of Riau, Syafri Harto, was officially detained by the local prosecutor's office on Monday in connection with a sexual harassment case.

This detention was carried out after the person concerned and the evidence were transferred by the Riau Police investigators to the Riau High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) in Pekanbaru.

Head of the Riau High Prosecutor's Office, Jaja Subagja, said that before accepting the delegation, Syafri Harto's files and health examinations were carried out first.

"Thank God, after implementing the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) the defendant has now been detained at the Regional Police," Jaja said, quoted by Antara, Monday, January 17.

Jaja continued that because the locus delicti (location of the incident) of the case was in Pekanbaru, then the Riau Prosecutor's Office would then transfer evidence and suspects to the Pekanbaru District Attorney.

Locus delicti itself refers to the place where someone commits a crime.

The harassment case occurred in October 2021 when a student was conducting thesis guidance in the room of the Dean of FISIP, Riau University.

"This detention is based on article 20 paragraph (2) and article 21 paragraph (1) and (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, that in the prosecution the prosecutor is authorized to make detentions," he explained.

Jaja explained that the prosecutor's office made the detention because it was feared that the suspect could destroy evidence, complicate the trial or even repeat his actions.

"In addition, the defendant is a lecturer, a role model. The suspect should have set an example for the world of education and for the community, but what happened is like this. Therefore, we detained him," said Jaja.

Syafri Harto himself has now been disabled from his position as Dean of FISIP while waiting for the legal process to take place.