KPAI Calls For Immediate Arrest Of Alleged Child Rapist

Jakarta, Jan 7 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) has called for an immediate arrest of the person who had allegedly raped RI, a fifth grade elementary school pupil in East Jakarta recently. "The police must immediately arrest him and bring him to justice," KPAI deputy chairperson Apong Herlina said here on Sunday. She said according to the child protection law the person could be sentenced up to 15 years in jail. She said she was very concerned over the harm that had befallen her although the police had only said that she suffered mere infection. "Whatever is the cause of her suffering, KPAI asks the Persahabatan Hospital to treat her maximally until she recovers and to exempt her from any charges," she said. RI, however, diet at the hospital on Sunday. She said KPAI has coordinated with the East Jakarta police with regard to unveiling the case. She added KPAI also deplored the slow process of diagnosis on RI`s illness. She said according to her family RI has sought treatment in a hospital in Bekasi which said that she suffered from a lymph problem and a typhus. "The slow handling of RI`s illness is also a violation of the child protection law," she said. Apong called on the Jakarta administration`s Integrated Service Center for Child and Woman Protection to give RI legal aid and counseling to assure provision of medical treatment for her. According to KPAI cases of violence on children have increased in the past few years in the country. "In several regions the hike has even reached up to 30 percent," Apong said.