Jakarta knew about rape case since 2007

PETALING JAYA: The Indonesian government has known about Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim’s alleged rape of an Indonesian maid, Robengah, since 2007.

However, it did not make an issue out of it as Robengah did not want to press charges against Rais out of fear and shame.

Migrant Care Malaysian country director Alex Ong told FMT that its Indonesian department had drafted a report based on an interview with Robengah and subsequent investigations.

Ong said that Migrant Care in Indonesia had sent officers to interview Robengah in 2007, after she was sent back from Malaysia.

“We confirm that the document is original and from us. After Migrant Care did the report, we came out with a statement and sent it to the Indonesian embassy in KL, and to Mabes Polri (Indonesian police headquarters),” Ong said.

The report was also allegedly released through Internet whistleblower WikiLeaks, and was recently highlighted by Ahiruddin Attan (better known as the blogger Rocky Bru).

Migrant Care, however, maintained that it did not release the report.

“The leak was not from us. If we wanted to do it, we would have done it in 2007. Not in 2010. Migrant Care did not reveal this case in accordance with the victim’s request,” Ong said.

“With the unfolding of the case, Migrant Care hopes that the Indonesian government will resolve this case in the interest of justice,” he said.

Migrant Care also told FMT that a press conference over Robengah’s report was held this afternoon in central Jakarta. Hence, the issue has been widely discussed in the Indonesian media.

According to online news portal Detik, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had known about Robengah’s case since 2007.

“I have read reports on this issue. But based on our information in 2007, when we raised the matter, the victim chose not to follow it up with the police,” Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was quoted as saying in Detik’s website.

Indonesian newspaper KOMPAS quoted Migrant Care Policy analyst Wahyu Susilo as saying that the government could not do anything over Robengah’s report.

“They were unable to do anything at the time because our report could only protect the victim, and at the same time, there was no Witness Protection Agency,” he said. - FMT