Abuse of 21 Elementary School Students in Banyuwangi Lasted One Month

Banyuwangi City Police Criminal Investigation Unit investigators are examining alleged sexual abuse of elementary school/ANTARA/HO students

BANYUWANGI - Banyuwangi City Sector Police Chief AKP Kusmin said that itinerant toy dealers who allegedly abused dozens of elementary school students carried out their actions within one month.

"Based on the results of investigators' examination, the perpetrator, who is a travelling toy seller, admitted that his actions had been carried out since January 2023 when the suspect was peddling his wares at schools", he said as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 15.

However, continued the Kusmin Police Chief, the suspect with the initials MM (50), a resident of Kertosari Village, Banyuwangi District, argued that he carried out the obscene act because of an expression of affection for an elementary school student who was a victim of alleged obscenity.

According to him, in front of investigators, the suspect carried out his actions by giving lures such as giving free toys, being given money and also being promised to be taught to ride a motorcycle.

"Of the 21 female students who were victims of alleged sexual abuse by the itinerant toy dealer, two of the victims were still in grade V, two victims were in grade VI", he said.

While the other nine victims were in grade III SD, six victims were still in grade II SD and the other victims were still in grade I SD.

AKP Kusmin said the suspect was charged with Article 82 Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 4 of Law Number 17 of 2016 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2016 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 23 of 2022 concerning Child Protection.

"The alleged article is about child protection because the victims are all underage. The suspects face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison", he said.

The case of alleged sexual abuse of 21 schoolgirls from an elementary school in Banyuwangi, which was carried out by mobile toy dealers at this elementary school, is likely to increase the number of victims because so far only one elementary school has reported it to the police.