A boarding school principal has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for raping at least 13 students and making some of them pregnant.
Harry Uiravan raped girls between the ages of 11 and 14 from 2016 to 2021 at a school, hotel or apartment for rent in Bandung.
At least nine babies were born as a result of the rapes, and the case sparked public outcry.
On Monday, Bandung Supreme Court judges upheld the prosecutor’s appeal for the death penalty, saying in a ruling: “What he did caused trauma and suffering to the victims and their parents.
“The defendant has damaged the reputation of Islamic boarding schools.”
Wirawan’s assets will also be confiscated, including a foundation he owned, and sold at auction to the victims and their children.
Image: Wirawan’s crimes sparked a public outcry in Indonesia. Photo: AP
The judges also ruled that nine children born to the victims should be handed over to the Agency for the Protection of Children and Women with a periodic assessment “while the victims are mentally ready to take care of their children and the situation allows their children to be returned to the victims.” “.
Wirawan’s lawyer, Ira Mambo, said he would advise his client to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court. They have seven days to do so before the court decision is final.
Wirawan pleaded guilty and apologized to his victims and their families during the trial.
In January, President Joko Widodo said he was concerned about cases of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools and called on parliament to speed up discussions on the sexual violence bill.
Conservative lawmakers and Islamic groups want the bill to include bans on extramarital sex and homosexuality.
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