Bareskrim Polri Investigates Alleged Sexual Violence against Panjat Tebing Pelatnas Athletes

The case of alleged sexual harassment of Indonesian rock climbers is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police (doc. Paxel/Anete Lusina).

JAKARTA - The Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police is investigating a report of alleged sexual violence by a former head coach of the national climbing (national training) athletes against a number of female athletes.

The case was reported to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police with the number LP/B/101/III/2026/SPKT/Bareskrim Polri dated March 3, 2026.

The Director of Criminal Protection of Women and Children and Eradication of Human Trafficking (Dittipid PPA-PPO) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Brig. Gen. Pol. Nurul Azizah, said that the report was related to the alleged abuse of authority by the coach against his athletes.

"Today we convey the development of the case of sexual violence as reported by Police Report Number LP/B/101/III/2026/SPKT/Bareskrim Polri dated March 3, 2026, with the modus of allegedly abusing authority and taking advantage of the vulnerability or condition of female athletes to commit obscene acts to intercourse," said Brigjen Pol. Nurul Azizah.

He explained that the reported events were allegedly from 2021 to 2025, especially at the Bekasi Athlete Dormitory located at Jalan Harapan Indah Boulevard No. 10-12, Medan Satria, North Bekasi, as well as in several countries when athletes participated in international competitions.

The report was filed by the reporter with the initials SD as the power holder of the victims who were national team female climbers. Meanwhile, the reported party with the initials HB is known to be the head coach of the national team climbers who have now been dismissed by the Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation (FPTI).

Brigadier General Pol. Nurul Azizah explained that investigators from the Dittipid PPA-PPO of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police had taken a number of initial investigative steps.

"On March 6, 2026, investigators have clarified the complainant SD and one of the athletes with the initials PJ. In addition, investigators have also accompanied the victim to undergo a visum et repertum at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital," he said.

Furthermore, on March 9, 2026, investigators again clarified four other athletes with the initials RS, PL, KA, NA, and AV. For these athletes, a letter of request for a visa et repertum and a psychiatric visa has also been made at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital.

According to Nurul Azizah, the assistance from the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPTD PPA) was not carried out because the victims had received psychological and legal assistance from FPTI.

Furthermore, he said that in this case, investigators had also secured a number of initial evidence, including the initial report of alleged sexual harassment from the FPTI dated February 14, 2026, the decision of the FPTI Central Board on the centralization of the 2025 national training, as well as identity documents and WhatsApp conversations between female athletes and the reporter.

Based on the results of the interim investigation, investigators suspect that the reported person carried out his actions by taking advantage of his position as head coach to approach the athletes.

"The modus operandi that is suspected to have been carried out is to abuse the authority as head coach of the national team by taking advantage of the vulnerability of female athletes, then committing obscene acts such as hugging, kissing, groping, and masturbating and having intercourse," he said.

Currently, investigators are still continuing to deepen by carrying out a visa for the victims, a psychiatric examination, checking the scene of the crime, and clarifying witnesses and reports.

"Investigators will also collect other evidence to illuminate the reported events," he said.

In this case, the suspect is suspected of violating Article 6 letters B and C of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes in conjunction with Article 15 of the same Law.

The criminal threat in this article is a maximum imprisonment of 12 years and/or a maximum fine of Rp. 300 million. The sentence can be increased by one third if the criminal act is committed within the scope of education or committed more than once.