Fluctuations in Child Sexual Abuse Cases in Indonesia Over the Past Five Years

The Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS) report titled *2023 Crime Statistics* shows that the trend of reported sexual abuse cases, namely child molestation, in Indonesia has been fluctuating over the past five years.

In 2022, the number of child molestation cases reached 2,893. This is a decrease compared to 2021 and 2020, which recorded 4,741 and 5,536 cases, respectively.

Over the past five years, the highest number of child molestation cases in Indonesia occurred in 2020. However, the number decreased in 2021, reaching its lowest point in 2022.

In 2022, the North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda) received the most reports of child molestation cases, with 385 cases. This was followed by West Java and East Java, with 266 and 191 cases, respectively.

Conversely, South Kalimantan Regional Police had the fewest reported cases nationally last year, with only 21 cases. This was followed by Papua and West Sulawesi, each with 22 cases.

Recently, the Purwakarta District Police, West Java, named a religious teacher, Opan Sopandi, as a suspect in a child molestation case involving more than a dozen of his students. The police have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Purwakarta Police Chief, AKBP Edwar Zulkarnain, stated that the suspect's designation followed the police's collection of evidence and questioning of several witnesses, including the victims.

"The suspect's whereabouts are currently unknown, so we have issued a warrant for his arrest," said Edwar, as reported by *Antara* on Sunday (17/12/2023).

Edwar admitted that his office intentionally released Opan Sopandi's identity and photograph to the public so that anyone who knows his whereabouts can immediately report it to the nearest police station.

According to Edwar, preliminary investigations indicate 15 victims of Opan Sopandi's molestation. However, this number may increase as more victims may come forward.

For his actions, the perpetrator faces charges under Article 81 paragraphs 1, 2, and 3, and/or Article 82 paragraphs (1) and (2) of Indonesian Republic Law No. 17 of 2016 concerning the Ratification of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 01 of 2016 concerning the Second Amendment to Law No. 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection.

Based on this law, the perpetrator faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 15 years.

"However, because the suspect is an educator, the sentence will be increased by one-third of the base sentence," said Edwar.