East Java Police Handle New Case Of SPI Founder In Batu City Related To Child Exploitation

Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police, Kombes Dirmanto/DOK PHOTO: AM Sby-VOI

SURABAYA - The District Attorney (Kejari) of Batu City, East Java, has arrested the defendant Julianto Eka Putra, related to the case of sexual violence against his student.

Now, the founder and principal of the Batu Morning Indonesia School (SPI) in Batu City, is currently facing a new case, namely economic exploitation by employing minors.

The Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police, Kombes Dirmanto, confirmed that the East Java Police were handling the case. The case was initially handled by the Bali Police, but was later transferred to the East Java Police in April.

"We East Java Police have received an abundance of cases related to JEP in new cases related to economic exploitation. The case was first handled by the Bali Police, then on April 26 2022 it was transferred to the Ditreskrimum of the East Java Police, and is currently still in the process of being handled," said Dirmanto, in Jakarta. Surabaya, Tuesday, July 12.

Dirmanto promised to immediately follow up on the new case that befell the founder of SPI.

According to him, this case is different from previous cases related to sexual harassment of dozens of students.

"Because this is a new offense, there will be new allegations. So we are trying to follow up on those who are suspected of being concerned. The police are working according to what is reported. So now it is still in the process," he said.

Until now, continued Dirmanto, investigators are currently examining six victims. Meanwhile, the witnesses are still in the process of being investigated further.

"There are six victims with the initials RB and his friends who are alumni of the SPI School. Meanwhile, for witnesses, further investigation is still being carried out, it is still a process," he said.

Dirmanto explained that the economic exploitation case was allegedly carried out in 2009, when the victims were 15 years old.

"The person in question is in school from 2009 at SPI. At that time he was 15 years old. So he was still a minor," he said.

If proven guilty, then the perpetrator will be charged with Article 761 i in conjunction with Article 88 of Law (UU) RI No. 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, concerning people are prohibited from placing and ordering economic exploitation of children, the threat of which is a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

It was also informed for children who had been victims of JEP's economic exploitation, the East Java Police had provided a complaint hotline at the telephone number 0895343777548.