The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) filed a report on Monday with the South Jakarta Police against a 47-year-old resident of Cipulir, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, for allegedly abusing her 12-year-old son
he Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) filed a report on Monday with the South Jakarta Police against a 47-year-old resident of Cipulir, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, for allegedly abusing her 12-year-old son.
KPAI General Secretary Erlinda said on Friday that the commission had reported the alleged child abuse to the police after receiving a report from a neighbor, in whose house the child had sought refuge because of alleged physical abuse by his mother.
'It was the third time the child had run away from his house. We've been coordinating with the police but they have taken too long to process the case, as if they were powerless, knowing that the mother has 'backing,'' Erlinda said, referring to the woman's alleged connections with army officials, which she claims has impeded a speedy investigation.
Erlinda said that according to the neighbor, the mother went next door looking for the boy accompanied by men wearing military uniforms.
The KPAI, which could not come to the neighbor's house when the report was made, asked an NGO, Family Number One or FNO Community, to act on its behalf and give temporary accommodation to the boy.
The 37-year-old neighbor said that she was shocked when the child came to her house crying, with many scars on his body, including a bruised right cheek and a scratch on his right hand. 'He looked very depressed and was afraid to return home. I reported it to the KPAI, then helped the KPAI to file a report to the police,' the neighbor said.
The son, whose two siblings are still in the family home, is now in a safe house, recovering, the KPAI said. His medical tests are currently being processed at Cipto Mangunkusumo state hospital.
FNO Community chairman Susi said that the mother had filed a missing child report to the Kebayoran Lama Police after her son did not come home for two days. The police have already visited the mother's house and sought information from the neighbors.
'But the police could not find him as the neighbors had agreed not to give away any information regarding the child. They know exactly how the mother treats her son,' Susi said.
Meanwhile, the South Jakarta Police have confirmed that they are still processing the case and have not summoned the mother for questioning yet.
'We are still processing the case, gathering information from the witnesses. Allow us to process the case first,' Nunu Supadmi, from the South Jakarta Police's Women and Children Protection (PPA) unit said.
South Jakarta Police spokesperson Comr. Aswin said the police had questioned the woman's neighbor and the neighborhood unit head.
Aswin was quoted by tribunnews.com as saying that from witness accounts, on June 26 the woman slapped her son on his cheek.
Police said it seemed that the woman had slapped the boy because he did not listen to her.
The police said they were yet to confirm rumors about the woman injuring the boy's arm with a saw.
KPAI's Erlinda had previously circulated a message to journalists and the public through a messaging app that the mother in South Jakarta had sawed her son's arm.
'We haven't found any evidence of that. There was a scar on his arm but it was already healing, so there was no fresh wound,' Aswin said.
The neighbor said that the child had told her that his mother had hurt his left hand with a saw and threw a bowl at him, causing a serious wound in his left thigh.
'The boy said the violence had been happening for three years. I can still see his scars,' the neighbor said as quoted by tribunnews.com.
The neighborhood unit head, Zainudin, 48, said that he had once heard the son's parents scold the boy but he thought it was normal.
'I thought it was normal. So I didn't worry too much,' he said.
The KPAI has previously released data which claims that in 2014 there were 970 cases of violence against children recorded, comprising physical, psychological and sexual abuse. (foy)
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