The Case Of Rape At The Kemenkop UKM, Minister Teten, Has Not Been Able To Confirm That Victims Receive Restitutional Money

Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki. (Dok Kemenkop UKM)

JAKARTA - Victims of rape with fellow co-workers within the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Kemenkop UKM) are guaranteed their rights. This assurance was disclosed by the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki.

Teten said the Kemenkop UKM would coordinate with the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) in ensuring the fulfillment of the rights of employees who were victims of rape at the agency.

"Both in terms of handling, protection, and recovery," said Teten in Jakarta, Monday, November 28, as reported by Antara.

Regarding the payment of restitution or compensation for victims, Teten said that until now there has been no further discussion about it.

In line with that, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Arif Rahman Hakim said the ministry continues to coordinate with LPSK and KPPPA regarding what rights are received by victims.

"Today LPSK is conducting an internal trial to decide whether this victim will get protection or not," he said.

He said, if later LPSK decides to provide protection to victims, it includes legal, psychological protection to other forms of recovery.

Teten said the Kemenkop UKM had also paid all the honorariums for the victims who had been delayed.

The case of sexual harassment and rape of an employee of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs occurred in December 2019. The victim was raped by four perpetrators, three of whom are civil servants (PNS) and one honorary worker.

The settlement of the case is known to have protracted because the team of code of ethics that was formed was filled by employees who had kinship relationships with the perpetrators.

The case was reported to the Bogor City Police, but was stopped due to the issuance of a letter of termination of investigation (SP3).

Separately, LPSK Deputy Chairman Edwin Partogi Pasaribu suspected that there had been a violation of the legal process by a police officer who handled the rape case of the Kemenkop UKM employee.

LPSK also encouraged the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to conduct an internal examination of the police officers who handled the case.