"We deeply regret the act of sexual violence by three perpetrators against a 17-year-old victim. Efforts to restore and fulfill victims' rights must be prioritized," the ministry's Deputy for Special Protection for Children, Nahar, noted in a statement received here, Wednesday.
Nahar lauded the hard work of all parties, including the Lahat PPPA Service and the Lahat Regional Integrated Service Unit (UPTD), for having provided assistance to the victims.
The ministry also urges law enforcement officials to thoroughly investigate this case, including immediately arresting an adult perpetrator, who is still at large, and imposing severe criminal penalties in accordance with the law.
"The Lahat Police are currently processing the case. Two child perpetrators have been sentenced to 10 months in prison, while one adult perpetrator is still on the run and being pursued by the Police. The entire legal process is the authority of law enforcement officials, but we must consider justice for the victim," he stated.
In this case, Nahar explained that the judicial process for child perpetrators was regulated in Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA).
Meanwhile, the adult offender can be charged under Article 81 of Law Number 17 of 2016, with a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 15 years in prison.
"We encourage the authorities to pursue the adult offender and give the most severe punishment, including the addition of a third of the sentence and an additional sentence in the form of announcing the identity because it was carried out by more than one perpetrator, which indicated that the adult perpetrator invited the child perpetrator to commit a crime," Nahar stated.
The ministry also urged investigators to develop this case for other alleged perpetrators, both of whom are still on the run and those who have not been named as suspects.
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Translator: Anita Permata D, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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