Viral Allegations Of Child Kidnapping In Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, The Police Denies

Payakumbuh Police Chief Iptu Imam Teguh / Antara

PAYAKUMBUH - The Payakumbuh Police Sector (Polsek), West Sumatra (West Sumatra) Regional Police denied the issues circulating on social media related to the kidnapping of children in Taeh Baruah Nagari, Payakumbuh District, Limapuluh Kota Regency.

The Payakumbuh Police Chief, Iptu Imam Teguh, denied the existence of a kidnapping incident in the Payakumbuh Police jurisdiction, but confirmed that there was indeed a woman who had insisted on one of the children.

"The woman was arrested because she is suspected of being a person with a mental disorder (ODGJ). There have been no cases of kidnapping children that have occurred in the last few days. The woman was interrogated because previously she had insisted on the child who took her to the Nurul Falah Mosque on Friday, December 10," he said in Payakumbuh, Monday, December 13.

Information about the kidnapping of the child first appeared on social media Facebook, which stated that the perpetrator, who was a woman, was accompanied by a photo.

Not only that, in the circulating photo, the woman wearing a long-sleeved shirt is also being interrogated by the police.

He said that from the results of the interrogation, the woman with the initials MS (35) had her address according to her ID card at Taruko Jorong Sutijo, Koto Gadang Village, IV Koto District, Agam Regency.

"We suspect that she has a mental disorder, so it is not true that there was a child kidnapping case. At first the woman wanted to ride to the Nurul Falah Mosque from Pasar Friday to look for a former Nagari Wali named Jemi, but there was no name for the former Nagari guardian and she insisted on being escorted to the place other things," he said as quoted by Antara. He revealed that although so far the truth regarding cases of child abductions does not exist, his party still reminds the public to remain vigilant and be careful of people they do not know.

If a suspect is found later, his party asks the public not to take the law into their own hands.

"In addition, we must not be swayed by false information. Of course, we continue to remind the public to remain vigilant and careful, especially towards people who are unknown and suspicious, but do not take the law into their own hands," he said.