he West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Police are investigating a 70-year-old Italian citizen, identified only by the initials BG, for allegedly having sexually abused several children.
“Investigators are investigating BG. Apart from collecting information from victims, they are also still examining documents and photos in a laptop and mobile phone belonging to the suspect,” NTB Police spokesperson Adr. Sr. Comr. Tribudi Pangastuti said in Mataram on Tuesday.
She said BG was arrested at his home at the Graha Permata Mataram housing complex on March 1 after the police received a report from the NTB Children Protection Institution (LPA). BG was suspected of having molested six boys, she added.
“He has been arrested for 20 days and the police have requested an additional 20 days to complete their investigation,” said Tribudi. It was revealed in the investigation that BG had lived on Lombok for 20 years.
LPA advocacy division coordinator Joko Jumadi said his organization would give assistance to the six alleged victims. “There are many other victims who have not yet reported his [alleged] crimes to the police. We are tracing them,” he said. It was suspected dozens of children had been victims of BG as authorities found a lot of pictures of children in his laptop and tablet.
Joko said the case was discovered after the LPA received reports from local residents about BG’s behavior, which raised their suspicions.
In the first stage, the LPA would focus its assistance on accompanying the victims in the ongoing legal process. In the rehabilitation process, it would provide psychologists to help heal their trauma, Joko said. (ebf)
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