Background
A former headmaster of the Islamic boarding school Abul Barokat on Lombok island, Ahmad Imanuddin Sumar, known to students as "Abah", was named as a suspect in a sexual abuse investigation and subsequently detained by Indonesian police.
The police reopened the case after a BBC World Service report revealed accusations by former students and documented how they had collected evidence to bring the allegations to authorities. The exposé sparked public outrage and led to 12 more former pupils providing testimony.
Student Investigators
Ziadatur Rahmah, referred to by classmates as Zia, and Sukma Rohana Fajar played a pivotal role. After Zia told a former classmate that Abah had sexually assaulted her at 17, the two set out to gather evidence. The pair interviewed former classmates, including Sukma, who alleged an attempted rape. Their evidence was compiled into a seven‑page document which they presented to the school’s managing body, Nahdlatul Wathan Diniyah Islamiyah (NWDI). The school allegedly pressured the students to withdraw their claims.
In a secretly recorded phone call, Abah pleaded with the students to keep his conduct quiet, stating, “Cover the shame of your teacher. Everyone makes mistakes, my child.” In a subsequent news conference, he denied all allegations while admitting the voice on the recordings was his.
Community Response
Following the BBC investigation, parents rushed to the school, some traveling from distant islands, to retrieve their children. A mother, moved to tears, told reporters she was “moving her right now” and wanted her daughter to leave. The day after the story broke, additional students emerged as survivors, overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that arrived via social media platforms.
The school’s managing organisation denied covering up and said it was conducting an internal review. NWDI pledged to prevent future abuse and to protect students’ rights.
Current Status
The former headmaster has resigned and expressed a willingness to cooperate with legal proceedings. Police investigation continues as they interview the 12 new survivors and seek further evidence.
