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 The obstetrician’s practice license has been revoked.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 Officials confirmed ⁣the obstetrician’s practice license had been revoked, according to Cholifah.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.