"Let us support the National Police in developing a DNA database," Head of Kompolnas Inspectorate General (Ret) Benny Jozua Mamoto stated at a press conference on the handling of sexual violence at the Shidiqiyah Islamic Boarding School in Jombang and collaborating to fulfill the victims' rights to justice and recovery on Thursday.
The establishment of a DNA database will aid in tracking DNA found at the crime scene. Although the traces stay for days or even a year, they could still be retrieved, he explained.
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Mamoto later noted that in other countries, the use of DNA databases can help to solve a case that occurred over a decade ago.
Hence, Kompolnas has encouraged Polri to immediately develop a DNA database to help solve criminal cases that were days, months, or over a year old.
Moreover, Mamoto lauded the Polri's plan to upgrade the status of the women and children service unit to become a directorate. Thus, the investigation of cases of violence against women and children will be handled more efficiently.
The Kompolnas head noted that the decision was a responsive step to handle the increase in cases of sexual violence against children and women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"With the plan to increase the status, we are optimistic that the settlement of cases would be more professional," he noted.
Mamoto pointed to the presence of incompetent officers in handling cases of sexual violence against women and children. He attributed this incompetence to their lack of training and courses.
"As a result, the handling of cases is not optimal," he added.
However, he lauded the work of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Witness and Victim Protection Agency, Indonesian Ombudsman, and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection for helping to investigate and oversee cases of sexual violence take took place at the Shidiqiyah Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java.
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Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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