DPR Speaker Puan Maharani Asks Kidnappers Who Abused Children In Jakarta-Bogor To Be Charged With TPKS Law

Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani/DOK VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, has asked the perpetrators of the kidnapping of dozens of children in the Jakarta and Bogor areas accompanied by sexual violence to be severely punished.

Puan also asked law enforcers to take part in ensnaring the perpetrators with Law No. 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS) because based on the examination there were victims who experienced sexual abuse.

"I don't think it's enough just to use the kidnapping criminal article. But it must also be charged with the TPKS Law which has been officially enacted, so that victims and their families get justice," said Puan in a written statement, Friday, May 13.

Puan emphasized that the TPKS Law which was passed by the Indonesian House of Representatives on April 12, 2022 was designed progressively to protect victims of sexual violence. One of them, with a much heavier sentence against the perpetrator, compared to the punishment that has been only regulated in the Criminal Code.

"This case must be an example of the implementation of law enforcement by the competent authorities in the field," he said.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture hopes that severe punishment will have a deterrent effect for both the perpetrators and those who try to commit similar acts.

"This is a very serious matter for me. Children as the nation's next generation must be guaranteed protection from all forms of sexual violence," said Puan.

Puan assessed that the perpetrator had violated many rules, including those related to child protection. According to him, it is very important to ensnare the perpetrators with the TPKS Law and Law No. 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection.

"As a mother of two, it breaks my heart to hear that children are kidnapped and separated from their parents for days, especially when they receive news that children are sexually abused," said Puan.

The chairman of the PDIP DPP also hopes that the police will cooperate with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), and other policy makers for the recovery of victims. Puan said that trauma healing for victims must be done as well as possible.

“Make sure that this incident does not leave a trauma that affects the future of the child. It is our collective duty so that children who are victims of kidnapping and sexual abuse do not experience prolonged psychological effects," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Bogor Police Chief AKBP Iman Imanuddin revealed that from the results of the examination there were three children who were kidnapped victims suspected of having been sexually abused by perpetrator A (28).

"Among the 12 who were kidnapped, not all of them were. Only 3 people were (allegedly) molested seeing the physical condition of their children. All (victims) were male," said Iman, Friday, May 13.

The temporary motive for kidnapping children by A in the Bogor and Jakarta areas is economic.

"Until today, the first inspection has been looking for economic interests. Cell phones are taken and sold," he said.