Pangkostrad Ensures 7 Soldiers Victims Of Harassment Lettu AAP Accompanied By Psychological Recovery

The Commander of the Strategic Reserve Command of the Indonesian Army (Pangkostrad) Lt. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.

JAKARTA - The Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Pangkostrad) Lt. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak confirmed that his soldiers who were victims of sexual harassment from the first officer, First Lieutenant AAP, received psychological recovery.

"Oh for sure, for sure it (there is recovery)," said Maruli when met on the sidelines of his activity reviewing the defense equipment exhibition at the National Monument, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 25.

Pangkostrad admitted that he was surprised that there was a case of sexual violence allegedly committed by a first officer in his unit.

"I was also surprised, it was also terrible, yes, but what I said from the sight of so many people who were seen by media colleagues was actually hopefully the minimum of the victims, which was really until the harassment was right, it might also be reported," said Pangkostrad.

A first officer from the Air Defense Artillery Battalion/Kostrad TNI AD is suspected of sexually assaulting seven male soldiers who are all two soldiers (prada).

Head of Information (Kapen) of the Strategic Reserve Command of the Indonesian Army (Kostrad) Colonel Inf. Hendhi Yustian said the perpetrator, with the initials Lieutenant One (Lettu) AAP, a battery commander (danrai), had been detained by the Jaya/1 Military Police Detachment (Denpom) Tangerang after he had fled from the unit (desertion).

"The person concerned had fled, but last night (20/9), the perpetrator turned himself in to the unit and was immediately handed over to Denpom 1 Tangerang," said Hendhi Yustian.

He said that before the perpetrator turned himself in, investigators from Denpom Jaya/1 Tangerang had examined a number of witnesses, namely the victims.

He said the legal process against the perpetrators is currently still being handled by Denpom Jaya.

Colonel Hendhi ensured that the perpetrators would be severely punished if he was found guilty.

The case of sexual violence against seven soldiers of Yonarhanud 1/PBC/Kostrad was revealed after an internal investigation was carried out in the unit. The incident was examined by the unit after an anonymous report from the WhatsApp number regarding allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by the perpetrators to their subordinates.

From the internal examination, it is suspected that the sexual violence occurred in November 2021, February 2023, March 2023, April 2023, May 2023, June 2023, July 2023.

So far, Pangkostrad said that the new case may only occur in the unit where the perpetrators serve.

"I think there is only one. So that's a process. This is now (the perpetrator) has been arrested. There is an examination. It can't be released. That's our horror. We are also really afraid," said Maruli Simanjuntak.