T

he number of reported cases of sexual abuse of minors in Manado, North Sulawesi, has increased this year, causing concern among local authorities.

The victims range from as young as five years old to 18 years of age and the perpetrators were allegedly boyfriends, students, teachers and parents.

“We hope the police will thoroughly investigate the cases so it will create a deterrent effect for perpetrators,” said Nur Hasanah of Swara Parangpuan, an NGO dealing with sexual violence.

According to the organization, the number of sexual abuse cases as of September this year was 261, up from 199 cases in 2015.

National Commission on Child Protection (Komnas PA) chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait likewise said the police had to continue investigating sexual abuse cases in North Sulawesi, especially those committed in Manado, the provincial capital.

He criticized the local police for halting investigation into the sexual abuse of a high school student that allegedly involved the head of a city administration agency in Manado.

Arist said the police had to develop the case thoroughly and not prematurely decide to close the case citing a lack of evidence.

“It would be better for the North Sulawesi Police not to hastily say they could not find any evidence. The case needs to be developed. I don’t believe the North Sulawesi Police should stop the case because it is still in the investigation process,” he said.

Arist was referring to the reported sexual abuse of a vocational school student who was working in an internship at a local government office.

The teen was allegedly molested and forced to sit on the lap of the city administration agency’s head.

Arist said his team and other child protection activists in the province were supporting the student alleged to have been sexually abused.

“This is an effort to uphold justice for the victim,” he said, adding that many sexual abuse cases often stopped with the police and never got to court for a variety of reasons.

Arist said that North Sulawesi ranked ninth in terms of violence against women and children.

He said to break the chain of sexual violence against children the role of law enforcers in building synergy and partnership was essential.

“We will have a memorandum of understanding [MoU] on training for investigators to help the people understand the process of filing reports,” he said.

Quoting the result of a meeting with the North Sulawesi Police, Arist said every case reported to the police would be followed up.

“Just two pieces of evidence will be enough for the police to arrest, detain and even name a suspect. There is no compromise in sex crimes. There is no mercy,” Arist said.

Separately, North Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Wilmar Marpaung said his office would act in synergy with Komnas PA in its bid to investigate cases of violence against women and children.

He said the commission had offered his office training, which he considered positive in improving the service to victims of sexual violence.

He added that police personnel had to be able to understand and act in synergy in dealing with cases of sexual abuse.

“No fee is required from the family of the victims in the handling of a case. Should one be demanded, please report it to us so we can act against it,” Wilmar said.

In Minahasa regency, meanwhile a young girl was reportedly sexually abused by her own father for years.

The North Sulawesi police arrested the man at his house in West Langowan district.

Police said the victim, now 14 years old, had allegedly been forced to have sex with her father when she was a third grader in elementary school and that the acts continued for the following six years.