State to Protect Pesantren Students Falling Victim to Sexual Abuse: Ridwan Kamil

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil on Thursday assured that the dozens of female Islamic boarding school, or pesantren, students who were sexually molested by the school's owner and teacher are receiving protection and closely attended by the expert team. 

“The children are now being handled by West Java’s DP3AKB team for trauma healing and there will be a new education system for them too,” said the governor in a press conference on Thursday, December 9.

The West Java Women's Empowerment, Child Protection and Family Planning Office (DP3AKB), police, and the Witness and Victims Protection Agency (LPSK) are currently attending to the victims of the heinous crime committed by the boarding school owner and teacher.

The governor urges education institutions and pesantren forums to keep members in check and report if suspicious activities are detected. Ridwan Kamil hopes that justice would prevail.

“Hopefully the legal system will hand severe punishments with as many indictments for the immoral and inhumane perpetrator,” he said.

The public was shocked on the news about the owner of a female pesantren teacher and founder, Herry Wirawan, who sexually molested victims aged between 13-16 years old for several years. Eight of the students have reportedly given birth following his heinous act. 

According to reports, Herry Wirawan is the founder of three boarding schools: Tahfiz al-Ikhlas, Manarul Huda Antapani Foundation, and Madani Boarding School Cibiru. He was arrested on May 18. He is also a known figure in Bandung who is affiliated with the local branch of Islamic organization MUI and head of the Bandung Islamic boarding school forum. 

Read: Teacher in Bandung Faces 20-Year Imprisonment for Raping 12 Students

ANTARA | FRISKI RIANA