Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A 12-year-old girl, identified by the initials IA, become a victim of sexual violence while suffering from hypothermia during a descent from Mount Bawakaraeng in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The suspect, a 21-year-old man identified as Y, allegedly molested the girl late at night during a mountain group hike.
The incident occurred around 11:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, April 20, 2025. According to police, IA was part of a group of 10 hikers descending from the mountain after a one-day trek when the assault took place.
“After completing the climb, the group began descending the slopes of Mount Bawakaraeng,” said Sinjai Police Criminal Investigation Unit Chief AKP Andi Rahmatullah on Sunday, May 10, as reported by Detik.
The group stopped at Post 8 to rest and repack their belongings. There, they encountered the suspect, who introduced himself as a shelter attendant.
“The group didn’t respond much to his questions, and once they finished packing, they continued down the trail,” Rahmatullah said.
At Post 7, IA began showing signs of hypothermia. She and the companion decided to rest and spend the night there. It was during this time that the suspect allegedly entered the tent and molested the girl.
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Despite her weakened condition from the cold, IA attempted to resist by raising her arms, but she was too physically exhausted to fight back. A fellow hiker noticed the attack, shouted for help, and woke the rest of the group.
“When one of the victim’s friends shouted from behind, the suspect finally released his grip,” Rahmatullah said. However, the suspect managed to fled from the scene.
The victim later suffered severe trauma and depression following the assault. The case was reported to police on May 5, and the suspect was promptly arrested.
Y confessed to the assault during questioning, police said. He has been officially named a suspect and charged under Indonesia’s child protection law, which carries a sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 5 billion (approximately $310,000).
In addition to the criminal charges, the suspect has been blacklisted from hiking for 30 years by the Forum Pemuda Tassoso (Foretas), which manages the Tassoso trail on Mount Bawakaraeng in Sinjai Barat district.
(Raidi/Agung)
