Crime
Singaporean man arrested in Batam for alleged child sexual abuse
A Singaporean man was arrested in Batam, Indonesia, for sexually abusing his 16-year-old stepdaughter. The 50-year-old was apprehended at his residence in Batam on 7 September. Local authorities accused that the perpetrator repeatedly assaulted the victim during his visits to Batam, and the abuse is believed to have lasted for more than two years.
BATAN, INDONESIA:A Singaporean man has been arrested in Batam, Indonesia, on charges of sexually abusing his underage stepdaughter for over two years.
The 50-year-old suspect, identified only as AH, was apprehended at his residence in the Mutiara View housing complex on 7 September.
As per reported by local media, police alleged that AH repeatedly sexually assaulted his 16-year-old stepdaughter, AF, during his frequent visits to Batam.
According to Senior Police Commissioner Heribertus Ompusunggu, chief of the Barelang precinct police, the perpetrator engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim an estimated 120 times during his weekly trips to the Indonesian island.
The alleged abuse began in June 2022, shortly after AF, who used to live with her grandmother in Karawang, West Java, moved to Batam to live with her mother.
One day in July 2022, the girl slept in the same room with AH while her mother was in another room.
The police believed that after AH may have gave AF a drink laced with jasmine flowers, he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
On 7 September, the victim’s mother sought help from a friend to escape the house, unable to endure her husband’s violent behaviour and the sexual abuse of her daughter.
The victim’s mother was afraid to report the abuse due to repeated threats from the alleged perpetrator.
The police have detained AH for further investigation into alleged violations of the 2016 law on child protection.
If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of five to 15 years, with an additional punishment of one-third of the jail term due to his status as the victim’s stepfather.
