Lawyer Receives 21 Reports of Sexual Assaults in Depok Church
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9 July 2020 22:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Azas Tigor Nainggolan, lawyer of the victims of the alleged sexual assault by a church official in Depok's Santo Herkulanus Parish, said that the local police are investigating the case based on two victims' reports and five witnesses' accounts.
However, Tigor said he actually received more reports by more victims.
"Twenty one people have reported to us," he said.
The official report to the police was made by two victims and their parents on June 24, 2020.
To get more information about the case, Tigor said the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and officials of the Herkulanus Church had opened a complaint post. This post was established as a response to complaints from victims' parents who came to Komnas HAM on June 26, 2020.
Tempo Magazine reported on June 20, 2020, that Syahril Parlindungan (42), head of the liturgy at the Parish of Santo Herkulanus, allegedly raped a number the church's acolytes and altar boys. Syahril wrote a signed confession saying that he sexually assaulted 13 children. He also wrote the time and place of the alleged crime.
He wrote the confession after being confronted by Santo Herkulanus parishioners and the Justice and Peace Commission of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference.
The Depok Metro Police arrested Syahril Parlindungan on Sunday, June 14 at his home in Depok. He is charged with Article 82 of the Child Protection Act, and is facing five to 15 years in prison with a fine of up to Rp. 5 billion.
Read: Cleaning the Church
M YUSUF MANURUNG
