Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) called for prompt police action in handling the case of sexual violence against five female students of the Shiddiqiyah Islamic Boarding School, Jombang, East Java.
"Sexual violence against female students in Jombang has increased the number of victims of sexual violence in religious-based educational institutions. Komnas Perempuan condemns this incident, especially the lengthy legal process that did not run smoothly," the commission's Head of Community Participation Sub-commission, Veryanto Sitohang, stated when confirmed here on Friday.
Sitohang urged the police to act quickly, so that people do not harbor any misconception that the perpetrators of sexual violence, with a background of being community leaders, can escape the law.
Komnas Perempuan also urged law enforcement officers to immediately take legal action, so that similar incidents do not recur, and victims could receive protection.
He further called on the police, as law enforcers, to not be negligent and slow in enforcing the law to protect women and society.
He expressed optimism that the police would process cases of sexual violence in a professional manner and ensure the public that their rights will be protected by the state.
"We hope the next process would go well, so that the people can trust law enforcement institutions," he stated.
Sitohang said that his commission had received a report on the case since the start and would supervise the legal process of the case until the end.
"We hope the victims would get their rights as stipulated in the sexual violence crime law," he stated.
Earlier, the police had arrested Moch Subchi Azal Tsani, 42, the son of an educator at the boarding school on grounds of suspicion of committing sexual violence against five female students of the boarding school. (*)
