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Second grader murdered in Aceh trying to save his mother from rapist
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Illustration of R, a 10-year-old second grader schoolboy who was murdered while trying to rescue his mother from being raped in Birem Bayeun district, East Aceh, on Oct. 10. (JP/Mecca Yumna )
A 10-year-old schoolboy was murdered while trying to prevent his mother being raped in Birem Bayeun district, East Aceh, last week.
The alleged rapist, Samsul Bahri, 36, reportedly stabbed the boy, identified only as R, before putting his body in a sack and throwing it into a river.
As reported by tribunnews.com, R and his 28-year-old mother lived near a community-owned plantation, far from residential areas in the district.
In the early hours of Oct. 10, R and his mother were sleeping in their house, while R's stepfather was fishing on the river.
Samsul is alleged to have entered the house and attempted to rape R’s mother, who resisted. The boy awoke and went to his mother’s aid, but Samsul reportedly slashed him with a machete, according to a statement by the mother.
Samsul is then alleged to have bound the mother and fled with R's body, which Samsul put in a sack before disposing it in a nearby river. The mother freed herself and raised the alarm in a nearby village.
The police and residents conducted a search and the boy’s body was found floating in the river the following afternoon.
Langsa Police criminal investigation unit head First. Insp. Arief S. Wibowo said the medical team had found several wounds to R's shoulders, neck, jaw and hands, including his wrists and fingers.
“The medical team suspects that the victim died from a cut to his left wrist,” said Arief.
Read also: Aceh authorities suspend caning of child rapist after he suffers severe bruising
Samsul was apprehended by the police hiding under a large tree later the same evening, he attempted to resist arrest and warning shots were fired.
Fadli Fajar, R's biological father who separated from the boy’s mother two years ago, was unable to contain his grief when contacted on Tuesday. Since the separation R had lived with his father in Medan Selayang.
“On 19 September, I just celebrated his 10th birthday,” said Fadli.
Days after the birthday celebration, R’s mother took him to Aceh.
“I could hardly believe it when I heard the news that he had died,” Fadli said, “I was told that before being killed, his mother ordered him to run, but he didn’t want to. Instead he fought.”
R was a bright, cheerful and resolute lad, Fadli recalled. He was among the top-ranked pupils in his class and was able to read the Quran at a very young age.
Fadli has demanded for justice for the murder. (syk)
