Banyumas Police Reveals Cases Of Unsoed Student Sexual Exploitation, Perpetrators Arrested In Bogor

Kasatreskrim Banyumas Police Commissioner Andryansyah Rithas Hasibuan (two left) and Head of the Unsoed PPKS Task Force Dr Tri Wuryaningsih (left) in a press conference at the Banyumas Police Reconfuge Hall, Purwokerto, (photo: dock. between)

BANYUMAS-Banyumas Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Central Java, succeeded in uncovering a case of alleged sexual exploitation that befell a student at Jenderal Sudirman University (Unsoed) Purwokerto. This case attracted public attention, especially in the Unsoed campus environment, because it was related to viral news that caused concern among students.

"This incident has indeed caught the attention of the public and leaders because it is related to viral news that allegedly occurred in the middle to the end of August 2024," said the Head of the Banyumas Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Police Commissioner Andryansyah Rithas Hasibuan, at a press conference at the Banyumas Police Reconfuge Hall, Purwokerto, Saturday (21/9/2024).

This case stems from a complaint submitted by a number of Unsoed students to the Banyumas Police Satreskrim. However, until now only one official report has been processed, namely from the victim with the initials OSF (19), a resident of Karanggede Kulon Village, Karanglewas District, Banyumas.

Based on a police report numbered LP/B/76/IX/2024 dated September 9, 2024, the victim reported that the incident occurred in a hotel room on Jalan Merdeka, Purwokerto, on August 27, 2024. The incident began when the OSF met the perpetrator with the initials ND alias OV, who claimed to be an employee of a well-known production house in Indonesia. The perpetrator offered OSF the opportunity to become an advertising model for a well-known food company, because the OSF was considered to have a height and suitable appearance.

ND then asked for the OSF contact number to schedule further interviews. On August 27, 2024, OSF met with ND at a hotel cafe at 17.30 WIB. During the meeting, ND persuaded OSF to drink alcoholic beverages and conduct interviews.

During the interview, ND began persuading the victim to have sex with a promise to help OSF become a famous artist. When the victim refused, the perpetrator threatened to report OSF to the Unsoed Chancellor and claimed that a senior victim had not graduated as a result of being reported by ND. Out of fear, the victim finally followed the perpetrator's persuasion and had sexual intercourse in one of the hotel rooms.

Perpetrators Arrested In Bogor

After the incident, OSF reported the incident to the Banyumas Police Satreskrim. After receiving the report, the police immediately conducted an investigation and pursuit of the perpetrators who were known to have left the Banyumas area. The perpetrator was arrested on September 17, 2024 at an inn on Jalan Perdana Raya, near Ibnu Khaldun University, Bogor, West Java.

Police Commissioner Andryansyah Rithas Hasibuan revealed that the perpetrators of ND were recidivist in fraud cases and had been arrested in Barelang and Yogyakarta. Currently, ND has been named a suspect and charged with Article 12 of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence. The penalty imposed on the perpetrator is a maximum of 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to Rp. 1 billion.

In addition to reports from the OSF, the Banyumas Police Satreskrim also received complaints from three other Unsoed students who were suspected of having experienced similar actions. The head of the Unsoed Purwokerto Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force (PPKS), Dr. Tri Wuryaningsih, said that the three female students had not officially reported the incident that befell them. All three reported having received indecent words from ND through the messaging application, but not until physical contact occurred.

Unsoed stated that it would fully support the ongoing legal process and be committed to increasing security in the campus environment. In addition, the university will strengthen its sexual violence campaign and ask female students to be more critical of various unofficial offers.

"Such cooperation must go through official channels, such as institutions recognized by Jenderal Sudirman University. We will also increase security on campus so that not just outsiders can approach students," said Dr. Tri Wuryaningsih.

With this case, the police and universities hope that students are more careful and always report all forms of violence or threats experienced.