Kiai Ponpes Pati Cabuli Dozens of Santriwati Since 2020, Using the Modus Serap Ilmu

ANTARA/Akhmad Nazaruddin Lathif.

Pati - The Pati City Police (Polresta) revealed a case of sexual violence committed by the suspect AS (51), a Pondok Pesantren Ndolo Kusumo caregiver, Tlogowungu District, Pati, against female students, which occurred in 2020 to 2024.

"Based on the results of the investigation, the suspect AS is suspected of committing the crime of sexual abuse and sexual violence against the victim with the initials FA in the environment of Pondok Pesantren Ndolo Kusumo, Dukuh Bagangan, Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu District, from February 2020 to January 2024," said Police Chief of Pati Kombes Jaka Wahyudi as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 7.

He explained the modus operandi of the perpetrator by inviting the victim to the room on the pretext of asking to be massaged. After that, the victim was molested.

"The sexual harassment was carried out 10 times at different times," he said.

The perpetrator is also suspected of influencing the victim with the doctrine that students must obey the words of the teacher in order to absorb knowledge from their teacher.

The case was revealed after the victim told her father about what happened to her. Furthermore, the family performed a visa at the hospital and reported the case to the police.

During the investigation process, the suspect had skipped the call for an examination and fled. The joint team of Pati Police, Jatanras Polda Central Java, and Resmob Mabes Polri then arrested the suspect at the Purwantoro Grand Mosque, Wonogiri Regency, Central Java on Thursday (7/5) morning.

"Two days after escaping or within 2x24 hours, the suspect was successfully arrested," he said.

The police also secured a number of evidence, including a black veil, a black bra, green underwear, black long-sleeved clothes, a gray plisket skirt, and one mobile phone belonging to the victim.

For his actions, the suspect was charged with Article 76 letter E in conjunction with Article 83 of Law Number 17/2016 concerning Child Protection with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

In addition, the suspect was also charged with Article 6 letter C in conjunction with Article 15 paragraph (1) letter E of Law Number 12/2022 concerning Sexual Violence with a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison, as well as Article 418 paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code concerning Child Protection with a maximum sentence of 12 years.

The case of sexual violence was actually reported since 2024. However, the investigation process experienced obstacles due to the existence of a family-based solution, which led to the settlement of the case.

Meanwhile, the only active reporter is only one person. However, investigators will continue the legal process after receiving reinforcement from other witnesses.

Among them, the reporting witness, the witness of the victim's brother, four witnesses from the management of the Ndolo Kusumo Pondok Pesantren Foundation, then witnesses from the family of the perpetrator, witnesses from the alumni of the female students, namely the victim's friends.

Then the witness of the wali murid of the related santriwati, witnesses from the Mitra Bangsa Patim Hospital, witnesses from the Diniyah Education and Ponpes Office of the Ministry of Religion of Pati, and expert witnesses from the University of 11 March Solo.

The police ensured that the investigation process would be carried out professionally, transparently, and in accordance with applicable laws.