Authorities have formally charged Asyhari, the caretaker of Pondok Pesantren Ndolo Kusumo, with child molestation. The suspect now faces a substantial prison sentence, potentially up to 15 years, under Indonesia’s stringent Child Protection Law.
Confirming the charges on Tuesday, May 5, Kompol Dika Hadiyan Widya Wiratama, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Pati Police Resort, elaborated on the legal framework. He stated, “The threat of punishment stems from Article 76 Huruf E junto Article 82 of the Child Protection Law, carrying a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of fifteen years in prison.”
Furthermore, Asyhari faces additional charges under Article 6 Huruf C junto Article 51 Ayat (1) Huruf E of Law Number 12 on Sexual Violence. While this specific article carries a maximum sentence of 12 years, Kompol Dika emphasized the police’s resolve, stating, “We are applying all relevant articles to ensure a comprehensive legal process.”
In the wake of these grave accusations, authorities are closely monitoring the situation at Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo. Kompol Dika revealed that several santriwati (female students) have already been safely retrieved by their parents. He acknowledged, “We are monitoring the conditions at the pesantren, though we are not fully aware of the current status of all students. However, many have been picked up by their respective parents.”
Adding another layer to the developing case, Asyhari notably failed to appear for his initial scheduled questioning as a suspect on Monday, May 4. Both his family and legal representatives have reportedly been unable to contact him and remain unaware of his current whereabouts, further complicating the ongoing police investigation into the alleged crimes at the religious boarding school.
Summary
Asyhari, the caretaker of Pondok Pesantren Ndolo Kusumo, has been formally charged with child molestation, facing a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years under Indonesia’s Child Protection Law. Authorities, through Kompol Dika Hadiyan Widya Wiratama, also applied charges under the Law on Sexual Violence to ensure a comprehensive legal process. These charges carry minimum penalties of five years.
Following these accusations, police are monitoring the pesantren, with several female students already retrieved by their parents. Asyhari, the suspect, notably failed to appear for initial questioning on May 4, and his current whereabouts remain unknown to both his family and legal representatives. This further complicates the ongoing investigation into the alleged crimes at the religious boarding school.