TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

American fugitive arrested in Jakarta a known pedophile: Jakarta Police

Russ Albert Medlin was convicted of sexual assault against minors twice in Nevada, United States, between 2006 and 2008, according to Indonesian police.

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, June 18, 2020

Share This Article

Change Size

American fugitive arrested in Jakarta a known pedophile: Jakarta Police Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus (center) and special crime unit head Sr. Comr Roma Hutajulu (left) show evidence pertaining to alleged sexual assault against minors committed by a United States national identified as Russ Albert Medlin (behind, center) during a press briefing on June 16. (Antara/Reno Esnir)

R

uss Albert Medlin, an American fugitive recently arrested in Jakarta for alleged sexual assault against minors, is a known pedophile in his home country, according to Jakarta Police.

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said Medlin had previously been charged in connection to sexual violence against a 14-year-old in the United States prior to his arrest in Indonesia.

“[He] was charged with sexual violence against a minor twice by a district court in Nevada between 2006 and 2008, and had served two years in prison,” he said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

The US authorities’ investigation found that Medlin recorded his sexual acts on video – a practice he would do again in his most recent crime involving an Indonesian child, according to Yusri.

Read also: Children 'trapped' in pornography: KPAI

During his stay in Jakarta, Medlin had contacted a local 20-year-old woman, identified only as A, who was known to have ties to child trafficking, the police spokesperson said.

“[Medlin] asked A via WhatsApp to introduce him to a minor. A then introduced him to the victim, SS, who is still 15 years of age,” Yusri said.

Medlin later talked to SS and asked them to bring along their friends, LF and TR. Each child was promised Rp 2 million, Yusri went on to say.

“[Medlin] asked one child to record his [sexual acts] with the other minors using his phone,” he said.

Medlin, who entered Indonesia on a tourist visa last year, was apprehended at his residence on Monday after police questioned three minors.

The US national has been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) wanted list for crimes related to an investment scam in bitcoin stocks, Yunus said, adding the scam totaled $722 million. (rfa)

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.