Soekarno-Hatta Airport Rapid Test Officer Who Was Viral Due To Harassment Was Charged With Multiple Articles

Eko Friston was charged with sexual harassment case against a woman passenger plane with the initials LHI at the Tangerang City District Court (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) International Airport's COVID-19 rapid test officer Eko Friston was charged with multiple articles. Eko Friston was charged with sexual harassment case against a woman passenger plane with the initials LHI at the Tangerang City District Court.

"The defendant, known to be a medical rapid test worker at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, was charged with two layered articles, namely Article 378 of the Criminal Code concerning fraud and Article 289 of the Criminal Code concerning harassment," said Dapot Dariarma, Head of Pidum, Tangerang City District Attorney, as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 16.

Defendant Eko underwent an inaugural closed session to the public with an indictment agenda chaired by the Chief Justice of the Panel of Judges Hari Suptanto and the indictment was read out by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) Adib Fachri.

Dapot explained that the first article that the medical scholar was accused of was fraud.

According to the prosecutor, Eko was proven to have blackmailed a female passenger with the initials LHI after undergoing a rapid COVID-19 test at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport when he was flying to Nias.

"The results of the rapid test were indeed the victims were declared reactive," said Dapot.

However, because he took advantage of the situation where flight passengers could not be canceled, Eko asked LHI for money of Rp1.4 million to change the results of the rapid test to non-reactive.

Eko was also charged with Article 289 of the Criminal Code for having twice sexually assaulted the victim in the Smile Area Terminal 3 and the 3rd floor of the domestic arrivals area.

"The defendant did not submit an opinion or object to the charges read out by our prosecutor. The next trial will be subject to the testimony of the victim's witness to be questioned at trial," said Dapot.

This case came to public attention after LHI uploaded the events she experienced through social media accounts on September 18.

LHI admitted to uploading the harassment action to social media, because they felt that their reports to the management of Soetta Airport (PT Angkasa Pura II), the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), and Kimia Farma as the provider of rapid test services at Soekarno-Hatta Airport were not responded to.

After being busy on social media, investigators from the City Police of Soetta International Airport met LHI in Bali to make a police report.