Indonesian principal arrested by police after BBC reported he was suspected of sexually assaulting students

Author, Endang Nurdin

Author, Rebecca Henschke

Role, BBC Eye investigative unit

and

Author, BBC Indonesian

Posted 1 minute ago

Reading time: 3 minutes

A man who serves as the principal of an Indonesian Islamic boarding school has been named as a suspect in a sexual assault case and detained by police following a BBC Eye report.

Ahmad Imanuddin Sumar, known as "Abba" to his students, once headed the Abul Barokat boarding school in Lombok.

BBC World Service exposed the sexual assault allegations against him and documented how a number of former students gathered evidence in an attempt to present the allegations to the authorities. Since then, the police restarted the case investigation.

The report sparked public outrage and prompted 12 other former students to testify to police.

Warning: This story contains sexual abuse content.

Outside the UK, you can watch Catch My Teacher on YouTube.

student detective team

At the center of the BBC Eye investigation are two former students, Ziadatur Rahmah (Zia) and Sukma Rohana Fajar.

When Zia told her former classmate Yusron Azzahidi that the principal had sexually assaulted her when she was 17, they launched their own investigation. Both were model students in the school back then.

At that time, Zia, who confided the matter to Yuslon, was studying in Cairo, Egypt, while Yuslon was in Jakarta.

Yuslon suggested that they gather evidence to support Zia's accusations. While contacting former classmates, they found Sukma. Sukma alleged that her "dad" had attempted to rape her at school.

Yuslon compiled a seven-page document detailing the allegations and handed it to representatives of Nahdlatul Wathan Diniyah Islamiyah (NWDI), which runs the school.

The students thought the school would support them, but they said they were instead pressured to withdraw their accusations.

In a secretly recorded phone call, "Abba" begged Yuslon to protect him and his reputation.

"Cover this shame for your teacher. Everyone makes mistakes, my child," said "Abba."

"Abba" also contacted Zia. Zia secretly recorded the conversation and shared it with the BBC.

In the recording, "Abba" can be heard apologizing for this, but at the same time begging her to remain silent.

After the BBC investigative report was published, "Abba" held a press conference to deny all accusations. He did not deny that the voice on the recordings was his, but said the recordings were not confessions.

Sukma told the BBC she had been forced to sign a document claiming her accusations were lies. Afterwards, she secretly recorded a conversation with her "Abba" wife. The students called "Abba's" wife Umi, which means "mother."

In the recording, "the mother" told Sukma that the document was to protect "her reputation."

The former students eventually resumed their pursuit of justice with the support of lawyer Joko Jumadi, who had handled similar cases.

More students come forward

The day after the BBC investigative report was released, parents went to school to pick up their children, some of whom even came from other islands.

One mother said she cried when she heard the news because she thought of her daughter.

"I'm taking her away now," she said. "I absolutely want my kids to leave this school."

Yuslon said he and Zia - who were recently married - were overwhelmed by the response from former students.

"This far exceeded our expectations," he said. "We've had so many people contact us on Instagram, WhatsApp. They've contacted me and Zia directly, and a lot of people are saying, 'I'm a victim too.'"

In addition to interviewing Zia and Sukma, the police also interviewed 12 other former students who came forward to allege abuse.

"They thought they were the only victims. And when they find out, like I did, that they are not alone, it's a huge shock to them," Zia said.

"It's not about revenge. It's more about acknowledging that what he did was wrong. I've been waiting for the day when he can admit that to himself," she told the BBC.

"Abba" has resigned from his position at the school and said he will respect the legal process.