KPAI collects 1,201 sandals for theft case

The sandal collection counter at the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) office managed to collect 1,201 pairs of flip flops, or rubber slippers, to protest allegations against legal mistreatment of treatment of AAL, a boy facing a prison sentence for stealing the sandals belonging to a police officer in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

“This is the response from the public who have been moved to help solve the boy’s problem, but not through manner of violence or imprisonment,” the National Commission for Child Protection chairman Seto Mulyadi said Tuesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

In its first few days since opening a flip flop post six days ago, the KPAI managed to collect around 600 pairs. However, as of Tuesday, a day before the sentence demand against the AAL was read out at the Palu District Court, the commission received up to 1,201 flip flops from members of the public.

Seto said that he hoped the rubber slipper-collection movement would help free AAL from a legal process, which the commission described as unfair and disregarded all considerations of child protection.

“Prison is not for children. No matter how bad their circumstances may be, children should be returned to their parents because only parents are able to educate their children properly,” he said.

AAL, a junior high school student is currently being tried for allegedly stealing sandals valued at Rp 35,000 (US$3.82) from First Brig. Ahmad Rusli Harahap. The boy faces a potential five-year imprisonment for the crime. (awd)