East Java Police Investigate Cases Of Sexual Violence Of Dozens Of Schoolgirls In Batu

Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police Kombes Gatot Repli Handoko (ANTARA)

SURABAYA - The East Java Regional Police (Polda) will follow up on alleged cases of sexual, physical, and verbal violence against dozens of students at a school in Batu City, East Java.

The case surfaced after the Chairman of the National Commission (Komnas) for Child Protection, Arist Merdeka Sirait, reported it to the East Java Regional Police, Saturday, May 29.

"After we received the report, we immediately followed up and formed a team. Then we will carry out construction and hold a case," said Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police Kombes Gatot Repli Handoko, in Surabaya, Monday, May 31.

Kombes Gatot emphasized that East Java Police investigators will conduct an examination of the reporter (Komnas PA) this week. The police will then call the victim and the alleged perpetrator.

"We have received the report and we will follow up professionally," he said.

In this case, continued Gatot, investigators have pocketed evidence. However, he said, investigators will still explore the evidence, in collaboration with Komnas PA.

"The point is that we will start working this week. The summons to the victims was accompanied by Komnas PA, which we coordinated with Mas Arist Merdeka Sirait," he said.

In addition, the East Java Regional Police will also provide trauma healing treatment for dozens of children suspected of receiving sexual violence. The psychological recovery came from the human resources bureau (HR) team.

Previously, the National Commission (Komnas) for Child Protection visited the East Java Regional Police on Saturday, May 29. The aim is to report cases of alleged sexual violence, physical and verbal abuse, and economic exploitation of dozens of children by one of the school owners in Batu with the initials JE.

Based on various evidences and witness statements that Komnas PA has collected, Arist also reported JE with three layers of alleged articles. JE was policed on suspicion of sexual violence against children, physical and verbal abuse of children, and exploitation of children.