Garut Obstetrician Faces ​Sexual Harassment Allegations; Practice ​Licence Revoked

GARUT, Indonesia (AP) — Two women have reported alleged sexual​ harassment by an obstetrician in Garut, West ‌Java, according to the Ministry of Women’s‍ Empowerment ​and Child Protection ​(KPPPA). The obstetrician’s ​practice license has been revoked.

Victims ‌Come Forward

Ratna oeni Cholifah, Assistant Deputy for the Provision of Women’s Service⁣ Victims of Violence at ⁤KPPPA, stated that the two women recently filed reports with the Garut Regency PPA UPTD.​ Cholifah’s statement was released Wednesday.

Cholifah added that ⁢similar incidents involving the ⁣same doctor⁤ were ​rumored⁤ before the case gained widespread attention. one prior incident‍ caused a disturbance but was resolved without formal charges, according to Cholifah.

“One of⁣ the patient’s husbands ‌was once angry‌ and punched‌ the perpetrators, but then the⁣ case ended peacefully,” Cholifah said.

Complaint Post Established

LBH Padjadjaran has established a complaint post to⁣ accommodate ⁤potential additional victims, Cholifah said.

The Garut Regency Health Office coordinated with ⁣the ⁤Ministry ‍of Health ‌in an online‌ meeting. Officials confirmed ⁣the obstetrician’s practice license had been revoked, according to Cholifah.

Details of ⁤the Allegations

Muhammad‌ Syafril Firdaus ⁤is ⁤accused of sexually harassing patients during ‍ultrasound examinations at a‍ clinic in Garut Regency,West Java.

Surveillance footage from the practice room,‌ which circulated​ on ⁣social media, purportedly shows the harassment of female patients undergoing ultrasounds.

Police​ Examination

Police have arrested Syafril after the ​video went viral, according‌ to police reports.

AKP Joko‌ Prihatin, ⁤Head of the Garut Police⁤ Criminal Investigation⁣ Unit, confirmed that two victims have filed police reports.⁤ Syafril⁤ remains under investigation.

The alleged incidents occurred in june 2024, while Syafril was practicing ​at a clinic in Garut, according to an interim investigation. He reportedly stopped practicing in the area in December 2024.

Garut ⁤Police ‌Chief AKBP Mochamad⁢ Fajar stated that Syafril has ⁣not practiced at the ⁣clinic as January and has left Garut. “We are ‌still looking for the perpetrators and will take ⁣firm action,” Fajar said.