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olice are examining the psychological state of a man suspected of sexually assaulting dozens of teenagers in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, in an ongoing probe into what is considered one of the city'€™s biggest-ever child molestation cases.

'€œThe suspect is currently undergoing examination by a psychologist,'€ North Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Susetio Cahyadi said on Wednesday, adding that the result of the examination was expected to be released this week.

The test was necessary to complete the case dossier of the suspect, identified as Syanwani, 46, and expedite the police'€™s investigation into the case, Susetio said.

'€œWe will immediately hand over the case to the North Jakarta Prosecutor'€™s Office. For the time being, we only have to wait for the result of the examination,'€ he said.

The Kelapa Gading Police apprehended Syanwani, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver based on Jl. Pejuang IV, East Kelapa Gading, on Sept. 2.

Police apprehended Syanwani, also a muazzin (a person who performs the Muslim call to prayer), after a parent of one of his victims reported the molestation case to the Kelapa Gading Police.

The woman filed the report after she was informed of Syanwani'€™s offense by a local resident who was walking in front of the Al-Barkah mushola (prayer room) on Jl. Pejuang IV on Aug. 12 at around 4 p.m. when he caught Syanwani red-handed molesting the woman'€™s 12-year-old son inside the mushola.

Kelapa Gading Police chief Adj. Comr. Ari Nugraha said that at present, the suspect was known to have sexually assaulted 26 teenagers aged between 11 and 17 years old, with the police having provided them with case dossiers.

During interrogations, Syanwani, who also claimed to have been molested as a child, said he approached his victims by offering them money, between Rp 5,000 (US$0.34) and Rp 15,000, Ari added.

He said the suspect, who had committed his offenses over the last year, also threatened his victims with physical violence.

The suspect has been charged under Article 82 of Law No. 35/2014 on child protection, and could face a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars and a fine of Rp 15 billion. In its investigation, the police seized several pieces of evidence, including a pair of green shorts, gray underwear, a white undershirt and three carpets.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), which has declared Syanwani'€™s case as one of the city'€™s biggest child molestation cases on record, said that it would provide necessary assistance to the 26 victims.

'€œWe will provide intensive help to the victims with their psychological, medical and legal issues,'€ KPAI secretary Erlinda said on Wednesday, adding that the psychological assistance would involve trauma-healing activities consisting of behavioral, play and family therapies.

Such measures, Erlinda said, were necessary as it was relatively difficult for the victims to remove their deep memories of the incidents, especially when they experienced them within this age range.

Furthermore, Syanwani'€™s case, she said, was just one among hundreds of cases of violence against children recorded in Jakarta. As many as 342 cases, half of which were sexual assault cases, took place last year, according to data from the KPAI. (alm)