Jakarta, ThedailyID — Police investigating the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in Sampang, East Java, say the suspects used a WhatsApp group to coordinate their actions and recruit additional perpetrators.
According to Sampang Police Chief AKBP Hartono, the group was created by the alleged main suspect, identified as AP (15), after he allegedly assaulted the victim.
“He created the WhatsApp group,” Hartono said on Thursday.
Investigators said AP initially invited several friends to join. Those individuals then invited others, causing the number of alleged perpetrators to grow over time.
Police believe the group was also used to coordinate the suspects’ movements. Testimonies from those already in custody helped investigators uncover the communication pattern.
After police arrested the first suspects, several members reportedly left the group. However, investigators said chat records and witness statements continued to provide leads.
“When one suspect was arrested, the others began leaving the group,” Hartono said.
The investigation expanded as each arrest led to new names. Authorities initially identified five suspects before eventually naming 27 people in connection with the case.
Police recently arrested the latest suspect while he was traveling on a bus to Surabaya.
Authorities also identified AP as the alleged mastermind. Police said he was the first person to assault the victim and later encouraged others to commit similar crimes.
“That’s correct. AP was the first,” said AKP Eko Puji Waluyo, Head of Public Relations at Sampang Police.
Investigators said the victim and AP knew each other before the alleged assaults. They reportedly met in February 2026, when the victim encountered AP and several of his friends.
Police allege the assaults occurred between February and May 2026 at three separate locations in Sampang Regency.
So far, officers have arrested 13 of the 27 suspects, while efforts to locate the remaining suspects continue.
The suspects face charges under Indonesia’s Criminal Code and the Juvenile Criminal Justice System Law. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.
