Fugitive One Month, Stepfather Persecuting Toddler Just Because Of Fussy In Bengkulu Arrested

The stepfather who molested a toddler just because he was fussy was arrested by the Rejang Lebong Bengkulu Police Resort team (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

REJANG LEBONG - The Rejang Lebong Police Team, Bengkulu, arrested a suspect in the abuse of his stepdaughter who was under five years old (toddler).

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Rejang Lebong Police, AKP Rahmat Hadi Fitrianto, said that the suspect was WD (23), a resident of Kesambe Baru Village, East Curup District. The suspect had previously been on the run for a month before being arrested by officers.

"The case occurred on August 14, 2021, and was only secured on Tuesday night, September 14 at around 23.00 WIB. The suspect was arrested in a domestic violence case in the form of molesting his 1.5-year-old stepdaughter," he said.

He explained that WD's abuse of his stepdaughter caused the victim to suffer bruises on the head and neck. But now his condition has improved.

The case of child abuse carried out by the suspect WD was reported by his wife to the Rejang Lebong Police. After the incident, the person concerned fled and was only arrested a month later.

"The case happened because of a trivial matter, because the stepdaughter was fussy, so the abuse took place," he said.

For his actions, suspect WD was snared by investigators from the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) of the Rejang Lebong Police for violating Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 paragraph 1 of Law no. 35/2014 concerning Amendments to Law no. 23/2002 on Child Protection with the threat of 3.5 years in prison.

"Everyone is prohibited from placing, allowing, committing, ordering to commit or participating in carrying out physical violence as referred to in Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 paragraph 1 of Law No. 35/2014 concerning Amendments to Law No. 23/2002 concerning Child Protection with a threat of 3.5 years in prison," he said.