The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Police have arrested a medical worker accused of sexual misconduct and extortion by a traveler who underwent a rapid COVID-19 test at the airport in Tangerang, Banten.

The suspect, identified as EF, was arrested at a rooming house in Balige, Toba Samosir regency, North Sumatra. He was with his wife and children during the arrest.

“A team arrested the suspect today [Saturday]. We have brought him in for interrogation,” the police’s criminal detective chief, Comr. Alexander Yurikho, said on Friday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said EF fled to Balige after the victim had shared her experience on Twitter, saying the incident occurred on Sept. 13 when she was about to fly to Nias, North Sumatra. The post later went viral.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police named EF a suspect and went to his rooming house in Tangerang, Banten, but did not find him there.

“EF told investigators that he immediately left for North Sumatra by using public transportation after reading the [viral] tweet,” said Yusri.

Read also: Soekarno-Hatta Police receive report of sexual harassment during COVID-19 test

According to investigators' findings, EF recently graduated from a medical school at a private university in North Sumatra. However, he does not have a medical license because he has yet to complete an internship program.

“We will question representatives of the Indonesian Medical Association [IDI] and the university to confirm whether the suspect had indeed graduated from medical school,” Yusri said.

Clinical laboratory firm PT Kimia Farma Diagnostika, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical company PT Kimia Farma, said it would pursue legal action against EF, who is an employee of the company. (dpk)