AFP report led to arrest of Indonesian police chief for alleged sexual abuse of minors
ABC Indonesia
Topic:Police
18m ago18 minutes agoFri 14 Mar 2025 at 4:24am
Man in police outfit standing in front of a table and banner in the background.
Fajar Widyadharma Lukman Sumaatmaja has been charged with alleged sexual abuse of children. (Supplied)
In short:
A tip-off from Australian police has led to the arrest of an Indonesian police officer alleged to have sexually assaulted minors.
The Australian Federal Police's report led to authorities locating a six-year-old alleged victim, Indonesian police said.
What's next?
The suspect has been charged and could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a fine of $97,000.
An Indonesian police officer has been arrested after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) allegedly traced child abuse material to Indonesia.
Fajar Widyadharma Lukman Sumaatmaja, a former district chief in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, is alleged to have sexually abused four alleged victims, three of whom are children, and distributed recordings of the violence online.
Indonesian police said he will face both an internal police ethics committee and criminal proceedings, announcing on Thursday he had been charged with offences violating anti-sexual violence and internet safety laws.
He could face a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to 1 billion rupiah ($97,000), as well as being discharged from the police, a statement said.
A man in an orange jump suit is flanked by police officers
Fajar Widyadharma Lukman Sumaatmaja in the custody of Indonesian police. (Detik.com: Azhar)
The director of criminal investigation with East Nusa Tenggara police, Patar Silalahi, said the AFP discovered a video on the dark web containing sexual violence against a child had been uploaded from the capital of the province, Kupang.
The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation referred child abuse material to Indonesian police, an AFP spokesperson told the ABC, adding that this led to the arrest of a man last month.
Mr Silalahi said Indonesian authorities then conducted an investigation at a Kupang hotel, identifying Mr Sumaatmaja as a suspect.
The AFP's tip-off led to authorities locating a six-year-old alleged victim, Indonesian police said.
"The alleged victim has been removed from harm," the AFP said.
Kupang Women Empowerment and Child Protection Office head Imelda Manafe said there were additional alleged victims — one of whom they were providing support services to.
Call for 'urgent', transparent legal process
Local police said the arrest stemmed from information provided by the AFP. (Supplied: Tribrata News)
Indonesian police said Mr Sumaatmaja was initially summoned for interrogation by police on February 20.
They allege that Mr Sumaatmaja "ordered" a six-year-old through a woman identified by the initial F, who brought the child to the Kupang hotel in June 2024.
F was allegedly paid about 3 million rupiah ($300) for this, police said, adding that she had been interviewed along with eight other witnesses.
Under former president Joko Widodo, Indonesia introduced the penalty of chemical castration for paedophiles after the highly publicised rape of a 14-year-old girl.
Local media reported that Mr Sumaatmatja met the woman through the Singaporean messaging application called MiChat, which Indonesian authorities have long associated with online prostitution.
A mobile phone with a lit screen showing a list of names in the grasp of a hand
The alleged perpetrator was reported to have used the online application MiChat. (ABC News: Yusuf Priambodo)
Selly Andriany Gantina, a member of Indonesia's House of Representatives, said she hoped the case would provide momentum for strengthening child protection in the country.
"A transparent and accountable legal process is an urgent need," she said, as quoted by the Antara news agency.
Indonesian police said Mr Sumaatmaja was also under investigation for consumption of illegal drugs.
The AFP said it worked with Indonesian police on a range of transnational crimes, including child exploitation.
"The team uses a range of methodologies and technologies to identify victims and liaise with Australian and foreign law enforcement agencies, particularly in jurisdictions in which a child resides, with the objective of removing the child from harm," they said.
"Images and videos can involve victims and offenders anywhere in the world, highlighting the importance of the AFP's international partnerships."
Posted18m ago18 minutes agoFri 14 Mar 2025 at 4:24am
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