Essentially, the president is paying serious attention to this case because it is a very extraordinary crimeBandung, W Java (ANTARA) - The Bandung case in which 12 students were raped by their teacher, HW, 36, has become a matter of grave concern for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), according to the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry.
"The president ordered us to conduct cross-sectoral coordination, and the attorney general’s office has responded immediately. With regard to the needs of victims, we must follow it up thoroughly," Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga delivered the statement at the West Java High Prosecutor's Office in Bandung on Tuesday.
Puspayoga highlighted that President Jokowi had instructed the state to contribute to the case and to take firm and swift action against the perpetrator, who had traumatized the victims.
Puspayoga affirmed that the president had also pressed for fulfilling the basic needs of victims, who were still underage, as their needs were the collective responsibility of everyone.
"Essentially, the president is paying serious attention to this case because it is a very extraordinary crime," she affirmed.
Puspayoga acknowledged that her administration understood the gravity of the matter, as the victims had experienced trauma again when the immoral case surfaced in the public domain.
"There are some who are traumatized again. We seek support to be able to see this case thoroughly until its completion," Puspayoga emphasized.
The Bandung District Court had conducted a trial of the case of rape against 12 female students of an Islamic boarding school, which was perpetrated by the owner of the institution, who also functioned as a teacher, HW.
HW was charged with committing a series of rapes against these female students through coercion, which resulted in some of the victims becoming pregnant. He committed such acts at several places, including his two Islamic boarding schools and at several hotels and apartments. HW started committing such acts in 2016, and they prolonged until 2021.
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Translator: Bagus A R, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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