Police in Lahat regency, South Sumatra, have named the head of the Religious Affairs Ministry’s office in Pagaralam city, Ramlan Fauzi, who is also caretaker of the Al-fatah Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Lahat, a suspect for allegedly sexually abusing his students.
Lahat Police’s women and children’s protection division head, Second Insp. Nurhanas, said Ramlan had been named a suspect based on victim reports and a police investigation.
“We have conducted medical examinations on five male victims. Based on the results, the victims sustained anal injuries, but our investigation is still ongoing,” Nurhanas said over the phone on Thursday.
Despite being named a suspect, Ramlan is not in detention as he has been cooperative. However, he must report at the police station twice a week.
According to Nurhanas, Ramlan is suspected of molesting students under the age of 18, and will be charged under Law No. 23/2002 on child protection, which carries a maximum 15-year sentence.
“Ramlan rejects the allegations, but we have sufficient evidence and he has the right to try to prove his innocence in court,” Nurhasan said. A little different than western law where innocence is presumed and the prosecutor has to prove one's guilt.
Separately, Ramlan denied he had sexually abused any of his students.
“I have been framed and the police reports are baseless. I can’t believe that the police have named me a suspect,” Ramlan said.
He claimed certain parties wished to destroy his career by reporting him to police, adding that he was ready to prove that he had not committed the sex crimes.
The South Sumatra Religious Affairs Agency has deployed a team to investigate the case.
“We have sent a team to determine the truth,” said agency head Hambali.
He added that he would immediately report the case to the Religious Affairs Ministry in Jakarta, which would issue a policy on the matter.
Meanwhile, head of the South Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), Adi Sangadi, expressed his concerns over the case.
“The sexual abuse case at the Jakarta International School has yet to be resolved and now a similar case is said to have taken place in a religious school,” Adi said.
Lahat Police’s women and children’s protection division head, Second Insp. Nurhanas, said Ramlan had been named a suspect based on victim reports and a police investigation.
“We have conducted medical examinations on five male victims. Based on the results, the victims sustained anal injuries, but our investigation is still ongoing,” Nurhanas said over the phone on Thursday.
Despite being named a suspect, Ramlan is not in detention as he has been cooperative. However, he must report at the police station twice a week.
According to Nurhanas, Ramlan is suspected of molesting students under the age of 18, and will be charged under Law No. 23/2002 on child protection, which carries a maximum 15-year sentence.
“Ramlan rejects the allegations, but we have sufficient evidence and he has the right to try to prove his innocence in court,” Nurhasan said. A little different than western law where innocence is presumed and the prosecutor has to prove one's guilt.
Separately, Ramlan denied he had sexually abused any of his students.
“I have been framed and the police reports are baseless. I can’t believe that the police have named me a suspect,” Ramlan said.
He claimed certain parties wished to destroy his career by reporting him to police, adding that he was ready to prove that he had not committed the sex crimes.
The South Sumatra Religious Affairs Agency has deployed a team to investigate the case.
“We have sent a team to determine the truth,” said agency head Hambali.
He added that he would immediately report the case to the Religious Affairs Ministry in Jakarta, which would issue a policy on the matter.
Meanwhile, head of the South Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), Adi Sangadi, expressed his concerns over the case.
“The sexual abuse case at the Jakarta International School has yet to be resolved and now a similar case is said to have taken place in a religious school,” Adi said.
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