Samarinda Police crime investigation head First Insp. Apdilla Dalimunthe said the police had conducted an initial investigation and named E as a suspect.

"An initial investigation and [current] evidence have led to the suspect," Apdilla said as reported by kompas.com.

The case came to light after the 5-year-old girl's recent behavior made her mother suspicious.

"She cried a lot and refused to be taken to the daycare," the mother, who refused to be identified, said on Sunday. "She often wakes up at night and screams."

The mother became more suspicious after finding wounds on the toddler's stomach and genitals when giving her a bath.

After her mother had persuaded her to tell her what had happened, the girl reportedly revealed that she had been sexually abused.

"My daughter finally told me that she was abused four times by E. He gagged her and threatened her not to tell anyone," she said.

She then reported E to the police on Tuesday and had her daughter physically examined. 

"A physical examination found signs of sexual assault on my daughter," she said.

She claimed that, after the report, she had been contacted numerous times by E's family wanting to give her money to settle the case out of court.

"I don't want to [settle the case out of court]. They said they wanted to meet me to give me money for my daughter's treatment and as compensation, but I refused," she said. "I want this case to be investigated thoroughly and the perpetrator brought to justice."

Apdilla said E was currently charged under Article 82 of Law No. 35/2014 on child protection, which carried a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of Rp 5 billion (US$355,899). (nal)

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