JAKARTA - The ranks of the Sampang Police, East Java, have arrested four more suspects in a child rape case. Currently, the number of suspects arrested is 17 people, out of a total of 27 perpetrators.
"Of the four suspects we arrested, two of them are still teenagers or minors, while the other two are adults," said Sampang Police Chief AKBPHartono as reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 20.
The four suspects are initials LN (14) and AR (15), both residents of Sampang District; then RQ (24) and MT (20), residents of Omben District.
All suspects are charged with Article 473 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment, Article 20 of Law Number 11 of 2012, and Article 82 paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection, with a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The victim in the rape case is a 15-year-old child.
The Police Chief explained that the arrest of the four suspects was carried out by his subordinates on July 17, 2026 in four different locations.
Currently, the suspects detained at the Sampang Police are only adults, while the suspects who are still minors are handled by the Directorate of Women and Children Protection of the East Java Regional Police.
"So, specifically for this suspect who is still a minor, the handling is carried out by the Directorate of PPA Polda Jatim together with the Sampang Police Timsus. If the other two adults are secured by the Sampang Police Criminal Investigation Team," he said.
Meanwhile, of the total 17 suspects who have been arrested, one of them was arrested in a separate case because he was involved in two different cases.
"There is one suspect from this perpetrator of sexual violence against children who is involved in two different cases," he said without naming the suspect.
The rape case involving a minor occurred in February 2026 when the victim was alone in the Suhadak Street area, Sampang City.
The victim was then introduced by a number of perpetrators, persuaded, threatened, and forced to follow their wishes.
The police also suspect that the victim was given alcohol before experiencing sexual violence.
According to the results of the investigation by the Sampang Police, the alleged criminal act occurred in three locations, namely Panggung Village, Sampang District; Astapah Village, Omben District; and Madupat Village, Camplong District.
In the disclosure of the case, the police initially arrested seven suspects on Monday (30/6), then two more suspects were arrested on Thursday (2/7), and one suspect was arrested on Friday (3/7).
Furthermore, the police arrested two other suspects, bringing the total number of suspects detained to 12.
Then on Monday (13/7), the police arrested another perpetrator, while the other 14 suspects are still at large.
On Friday (17/7), the Sampang Police again arrested four suspects, bringing the total number of suspects arrested to 17.
Regarding this incident, the Sampang Police Chief asked the perpetrators who are still at large to immediately surrender to the police. "We also appeal to parents to increase supervision of their children," added the Police Chief.
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