Online Driver Rapes Passengers, PDIP Legislators Urge Perpetrators To Be Charged With TPKS Law

Illustration of online motorcycle taxi drivers or ojol drivers. (Between-M Risyal H)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission V DPR RI from the PDIP faction, Irine Yustina Roba Putri, condemned the rape carried out by an online taxi driver or driver against his passenger, a woman who was about to go to Soekarno Hatta Airport. He urged the perpetrators not only to be charged with the Criminal Code, but also Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence or the TPKS Law.

"We already have a special instrument in handling cases of sexual violence. I urge law enforcement officials to implement the TPKS Law so that the protection for victims is maximized, and to keep the perpetrators a deterrent," Irine told reporters, Friday, November 28.

Irine explained that the TPKS Law provides comprehensive protection for rape victims by guaranteeing the right to legal protection (including continued intimidation from perpetrators), legal and psychological assistance, economic recovery, and justice in the legal process.

"This law shifts the perspective of handling sexual violence in order to focus on victims and expand the previously limited definition of sexual violence," he explained.

Currently, said Irine, the police have only charged the perpetrators with Articles 285 and 351 of the Criminal Code. Therefore, he encouraged the police to increase the legal entanglement for the perpetrators with the TPKS Law.

Irine reminded that rape is not a light crime, so her demands must also be severe. "Moreover, the victim is traumatized and physically injured. The state must be present to protect victims of sexual violence," said the PDIP legislator from the North Maluku electoral district.

On the other hand, Irine also asked law enforcement officials and the Government to provide assistance to victims. He reminded that the assistance provided for victims is not only legally, but also from a psychological perspective.

"Every woman has the right to protection. There should be no tolerance for acts of sexual violence. The state is obliged to provide assistance to victims," said Irine.

It was reported that a woman with the initials NG (30) was raped by an online taxi driver or driver while traveling from Depok, West Java, to Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soetta), Tangerang, on Saturday, November 23 in the morning.

The perpetrator FG (49) had threatened the victim with an object suspected of being a firearm (senpi). That's when FG had the heart to rape NG in the seat of the online taxi passenger.

The victim is currently reported to be traumatized, and is still undergoing medical treatment because there are injuries on his body.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested and named an online taxi driver, FG (49), as a suspect.