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Alleged gang rape victim still in coma
A 13-year-old girl (not 16, as was previously reported), who was allegedly gang-raped by seven men, remained in a coma on Monday after she was hit by a car and a motorcycle in Ciputat, South Tangerang, more than a week ago
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13-year-old girl (not 16, as was previously reported), who was allegedly gang-raped by seven men, remained in a coma on Monday after she was hit by a car and a motorcycle in Ciputat, South Tangerang, more than a week ago.
According to the head of the women's and children's protection unit of the South Jakarta Police, First Insp. Nunu Suparni, the young victim also suffered a miscarriage while she was in a coma several days ago.
'The victim was two months pregnant due to the alleged rape, but she lost the embryo a couple of days ago. Maybe the embryo wasn't strong enough because the mother was unconscious,' she told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
On Sept. 11, Nunu said, the girl was struck by a car while riding a motorcycle on Jl. Aria Putra in Ciputat before a motorcycle heading in her direction crashed into her. The car sped off after she fell, while the motorcyclist stopped to help the unconscious girl and contributed to the medical fees, she said.
Currently, the police were still investigating whether or not there was a connection between the accident and the alleged rape, Nunu said.
Nunu added that doctors at the Sari Asih Hospital in Ciputat reported the girl's respiratory system was improving, but that she remained under intensive care. The doctors said that they would release the results of the medical examination regarding the cause of the miscarriage next week.
The case first came to light when the girl and her parents filed a report with the South Jakarta Police on Sept. 4, accusing seven men in their 20s of raping her. Nunu said that five of the seven suspects had been arrested as of Sunday.
'The victim often hung out with the suspects on the street as she considered them friends,' Nunu said.
The girl reported that the rape happened twice in August at the construction site of a housing complex in Ciputat. Nunu added that the girl said not all the suspects raped her twice.
According to Nunu, the suspects could face multiple charges under Article 81 of the 2002 Child Protection Law on sexual assault against children and Articles 287 and 55 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on collective sexual intercourse with someone under 15 years of age if they are found guilty. The charges carry a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and nine years, respectively.
On Sunday, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) offered to help the victim if she wished to apply for witness protection, as reported by tribunnews.com.
LPSK chairman Abdul Semendawai said that the agency would provide immediate psychological assistance as well as protection for the girl.
LPSK deputy chairperson Lili Pantauli added that the agency would offer medical help and accompany the victim during the legal process to give her confidence to testify in court. (fss)
