Online Taxi Driver Arrested for Sexual Harassment in Central Jakarta

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) have named an online taxi driver, identified by the initials WAH, as a suspect following the sexual assault of a female passenger. The investigation revealed that the suspect was under the influence of methamphetamine, locally known as sabu, at the time of the incident.

The crime occurred while the victim was being transported to Soekarno Hatta Airport. According to reports, the driver sexually assaulted the passenger during the trip, leaving the woman physically injured and severely traumatized.

Drug Network Investigation

Following the arrest of WAH, the Indonesian National Police (INP) expanded their investigation into the suspect’s narcotics connections. Authorities have since arrested several individuals accused of supplying the drugs to the driver, as police work to uncover a wider narcotics network linked to the case.

The suspect’s condition and the discovery of his drug use have become central elements of the police investigation, with the Polda Metro Jaya detailing the chronology of the assault and the subsequent drug-related arrests.

Legal Charges and Calls for TPKS Law

Law enforcement officials have currently charged the suspect under Articles 285 and 351 of the Criminal Code. However, these charges have drawn criticism from political figures who argue that the current legal framework is insufficient for the severity of the crime.

Irine Yustina Roba Putri, a member of Commission V DPR RI from the PDIP faction, has condemned the assault and urged authorities to apply Law Number 12 of 2022, also known as the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS) Law. On November 28, Roba Putri stated that the TPKS Law should be implemented to ensure the perpetrator faces a stronger deterrent and that the victim receives maximum protection.

We already have a special instrument in handling cases of sexual violence. I urge law enforcement officials to implement the TPKS Law so that the protection for victims is maximized, and to keep the perpetrators a deterrent.

Irine Yustina Roba Putri

Roba Putri explained that the TPKS Law provides a more comprehensive approach to justice compared to the standard Criminal Code. She noted that the law guarantees victims the right to legal protection, including safeguards against continued intimidation from the perpetrator, as well as psychological assistance and economic recovery.

The legislator emphasized that the TPKS Law shifts the perspective of handling sexual violence in order to focus on victims and expand the previously limited definition of sexual violence, arguing that the state must be present to protect women who have been traumatized and injured.

Victim Support and Monitoring

Due to the severity of the trauma and the physical injuries sustained during the attack, the victim has been placed in a safe house in Central Jakarta (Jakpus) to ensure her security and well-being.

The case has also drawn the attention of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), which is actively monitoring the legal proceedings to ensure the victim’s rights are upheld throughout the judicial process.

Roba Putri further urged the government and law enforcement to provide holistic assistance to the victim, stressing that support must extend beyond legal aid to include critical psychological interventions.