CIMAHI (MARCH 26, 2023) – AMN (11) was seen happily chatting with an elephant at the Bandung Zoo. Occasionally he glanced at his younger cousin who was also with him. Several times they laughed out loud seeing the elephant wriggling.

AMN stroked the trunk of the animal with his right hand. Meanwhile, his left hand, which was still in a cast, tightly held a Captain America doll, his favorite character.

Last February, an incident of sadistic abuse by a biological father against his two children in Cimahi attracted public attention. The abuse claimed the life of the second child, AH (10), and caused the first child, AMN, to suffer injuries. This case caught the attention of the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini who immediately asked the Ministry of Social Affairs' Technical Service Unit (UPT), namely the Abiyoso Center in Cimahi, to respond to the case.

"Since the case was widely reported in the media, the Minister immediately directed us to respond, and its handling is still ongoing. Once a week we do a home visit. During the last home visit, we took the victim to Bandung Zoo on March 20," said Head of Abiyoso Center Cimahi Agung Hendrawan when interviewed by phone on Sunday (3/25).

Agung said that currently, his party is focusing on restoring AMN's psychological condition. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs has facilitated many psychological services for AMN. On March 1, 2023, the Team facilitated an examination of AMN's mental condition by a psychiatrist at Dustira Hospital. The result was that the victim still considered his father innocent and blamed himself.

Furthermore, based on a referral from a psychiatrist, AMN was advised to be referred to a psychologist. On March 8, 2023, the Ministry of Social Affairs took AMN to the Center for Psychology Innovation at Padjajaran University for psychological and intelligence tests. Based on the examination results, it was discovered that AMN had difficulty processing conceptual information. This was due to a lack of stimulation from the environment and academics.

Based on the results of the social worker's assessment, AMN dropped out of school due to moving around. In addition, AMN and his younger sibling have experienced several changes of care.

"Since their father and mother separated, the children's care has moved from the aunt to the biological father, to the biological mother, then finally to the biological father which ended in abuse," said Agung.

The father or perpetrator works as a street musician, while the biological mother is currently a migrant worker. The Ministry of Social Affairs has made contact with AMN's biological mother, but the mother cannot return because she is bound by a work contract that requires her to pay a fairly large fine if the contract is terminated. Finally, AMN's care has now been transferred to their paternal aunt. Previously, AMN's aunt had cared for him before he was returned to his biological parents because he had to move out of town.

"Now the child is being cared for by her aunt. We are providing counseling as reinforcement in providing care and assistance. Both academically, emotionally, socially, and behaviorally towards the victim. The results of his psychological examination show that AMN is actually still in a state of sadness, but support from the environment makes him enthusiastic again," explained Agung.

In addition to psychological support, according to Agung, the Ministry of Social Affairs is also providing assistance and advocacy in the process of examining AMN as a witness in the abuse case. The Ministry of Social Affairs also ensured AMN's education by advocating for the victim's continuation of school at a public elementary school in Cimahi.

"When AMN was with her aunt, she went to school until grade 3. Yesterday we assisted her in completing the administrative files as a prerequisite for entering school. God willing, in July, in the new school year, she can get back to school. We will monitor this," Agung said.

Previously, the Ministry of Social Affairs handed over ATENSI (Social Rehabilitation Assistance) to AMN i.e. basic needs such as clothing, food, and child nutrition. Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided ATENSI Entrepreneurship to the victim's aunt i.e. capital for a clothing sales business. Agung said that this is important because currently, AMN is the responsibility of her aunt so her aunt must also be empowered.

In handling AMN, the Ministry of Social Affairs coordinated with the Cimahi City Social Office; the Cimahi City Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning Office (DP3AP2KB); the West Java Province Women and Children Protection Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD PPA); and Cimahi City Police.


Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia