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Police drop investigation into alleged gang rape in Gorontalo
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Activists light candles in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on May 4 in solidarity with a 14-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Bengkulu earlier this year. (The Jakarta Post/Wienda Parwitasari)
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span style="line-height: 1.6em;">Gorontalo Police are dropping the investigation into the alleged gang rape of a 19-year-old woman from Manado, North Sulawesi, because of a lack of evidence.
The police found no conclusive evidence relating to the rape case, which allegedly involved four members of the police and civilians, in their preliminary investigation. The lack of evidence was also supported by medical examination results.
"The medical examination found old wounds to the complainant's genital area. But we will still conduct psychological tests to determine whether or not a rape occurred," Gorontalo Police chief Brig. Gen. Hengkie Kaluara said in a press conference on Friday.
However, the police would still hold crime reconstructions at four locations in Gorontalo, namely two hotels, a karaoke joint and a computer laboratory at a local state university.
Based on the preliminary investigation, the four policemen and the civilians were found to have consumed crystal methamphetamine, known locally as shabu, and ecstasy pills, Hengkie said.
The alleged rape took place over a five-day period from Jan. 25.
The police have vowed to take action against the four officers, identified only as Brig RY, First Brig. EEP, Brig. HDK and Brig ASD. Gorontalo Police also transferred Brig. HDK and Brig. ASD to the East Java Police in February.
Police had named two women as abuse suspects, both friends of the complainant and identified as Yuyun and Memey.
It was initially reported that the number of perpetrators ranged between 14 and 19 persons. The gang rapes were allegedly committed in three different places, in Gorontalo, in Manado and in Bolangitang, North Sulawesi.
The case was first reported by the complainant’s family to the Manado Police on Jan. 30 and the case was handed over to the North Sulawesi Police on Feb. 16.
North Sulawesi Police also dismissed the allegations of gang rape as widely reported on social media and in the mass media. North Sulawesi Police’s detective chief for general crimes, Sr. Comr. Pitra Ratulangi previously said that the results of an examination conducted by a medical specialist on the complainant found no signs of rape. (rin)
