Ministry to Decide Custody over Children of Surabaya Bomber
12 June 2018 16:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Social Affairs Ministry has taken over the custody process of seven children whose parents carried out suicide bombings in Surabaya and Sidoarjo last month.
On Tuesday, June 12, the East Java Police handed over the psychological treatment of these children to the Ministry at the Police Headquarters. “The children have completed medical treatments,” East Java Chief of Police Insp. Gen. Machfud said on Tuesday.
The seven children are between the ages of seven and 15 years old. Their parents, some have died, are suspected to be linked with terrorist networks following the bombings they carried out in Surabaya Police Station and an apartment building in Sidoarjo.
Read: Mayor Risma Visits Children of Surabaya Bombers
The Social Affairs Ministry, Machfud said, will continue to provide them with medical and psychological treatments. “The important thing is to fix their understanding of religion,” he remarked.
He added that the Ministry would also decide who shall have custody over the children, and selected the best schools for them.
On Tuesday morning, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini visited the children at Bhayangkara Samsoeri Mertoyoso Hospital with Surabaya City Police Headquarter’s chief Sr. Comr. Rudi Setiawan.
“They seem better--happier. I brought them sports balls and books,” the mayor said.
According to Risma, the Social Ministry plans to place the children in an undisclosed rehabilitation center. She hopes the children can grow up normally like most children in general.
Artika Rachmi Farmita