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Children tortured, held captive by ‘charity foundation’
The victims, identified as GP, 16, SA, 16, and Dona Ardiana, 21, were allegedly beaten, spat on, kicked in the face, and splashed with tea by their abductors, according to the police.
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The suspects are facing child abuse and human trafficking charges as stipulated under the 2014 Child Protection Law and the 2007 Human Trafficking Law. (Shutterstock/File)
T
he South Tangerang Police have rescued three people, including two minors, who were reportedly held captive and tortured for five days at the dubious Khusnul Khotimah charity foundation in Pondok Aren district, South Tangerang, Banten.
The victims, identified as GP, 16, SA, 16, and Dona Ardiana, 21, were allegedly beaten, spat on, kicked in the face and splashed with tea by their abductors, according to the police.
“They are currently undergoing trauma therapy,” said South Tangerang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ferdy Irawan on Monday as reported by kompas.com.
The police have arrested foundation member Dedi, 25, and foundation owner Abdul Rojak, 33. The third suspect, Haerudin, 27, a friend of the owner who is also a contract worker at the South Tangerang Transportation Agency, is still at large.
The suspects are facing child abuse and human trafficking charges as stipulated under the 2014 Child Protection Law and the 2007 Human Trafficking Law. They could be sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment if found guilty by the court.
The police said they were still trying to verify the legitimacy of the foundation with the Law and Human Rights Ministry because the foundation had failed to provide the necessary legal documents and could not account for its funds.
The case came to light when Dedi reportedly abducted SA and GP -- who he allegedly caught carrying donation envelopes belonging to the foundation -- from Jl. Panglima Polim in South Jakarta on Sept. 1. The foundation suspected the two children were collecting money under the foundation’s name, despite having left in July.
On Sept. 5, GP’s parents received word that GP was being held captive, and asked for his return but the foundation demanded a Rp 18 million (US$1,200) ransom. So instead, GP’s parents reported the foundation to the police, who raided the office on Jl. Tentara Pelajar later that day.
Police rescued the two children and found the third reported captive, Dona Ardiana, who the suspects allegedly tortured on suspicion of supplying the children with the foundation envelopes. (nor)
