Jakarta Police: 3 Suspects Paid Children to Join August Protest

Jakarta Police Detain Three Over Alleged Recruitment of Children for August Protest

Tempatdonasi.com – Jakarta Metro Police have detained three people accused of paying children to participate in a protest that was followed by riots in the capital on August 27, 2026.

The suspects, identified only as B, N, and P, are alleged to have persuaded minors to join the protest by promising them cash. The investigation is being handled by the Jakarta Metro Police directorate responsible for the protection of women and children and the prevention of human trafficking.

Authorities say the case centers on the alleged use of financial incentives to draw children into an activity that later became associated with unrest. Police have not publicly disclosed additional details about the children involved or the wider circumstances of their participation.

Cash Offers Allegedly Made to Dozens of Children

Director Rita Wulandari Wibowo said B is suspected of recruiting the largest number of children: 53. Each child was allegedly promised Rp55,000.

N, a woman, is accused of gathering 22 children with an offer of Rp50,000 per person. A third suspect, P, allegedly recruited eight children and intended to pay each of them Rp40,000.

The three suspects were not brought before journalists during the police press conference at Jakarta Metro Police headquarters on Saturday, September 12.

“They influenced and provoked children to take part in the protest by offering them a certain amount of money,” Rita Wulandari Wibowo said.

The allegations involve a total of 83 children across the three suspected recruitment efforts. The stated payments differed among the suspects, with B allegedly offering the highest amount per child and P the lowest.

Investigators Examine Transfer Records

Police said they had identified evidence involving financial transfers connected to the case. Transactions linked to B totaled Rp2.35 million. Those associated with N came to Rp842,500, while transfers connected to P reached Rp250,000.

Investigators emphasized that the amounts identified so far may not represent the full picture. The transactions are still being examined to determine their purpose and whether they are connected to other activities that require verification.

“However, this is only based on the evidence we have seen. There are several other matters that we need to investigate further, as the transactions indicate other activities that require further verification,” Rita said.

The money-transfer evidence is central to the police inquiry because it may help investigators trace alleged recruitment arrangements and establish how payments were planned or made. At this stage, the allegations remain subject to the legal process and further investigation.

Potential Charges Under Child Protection Law

B, N, and P are accused of violating provisions in Indonesia’s Child Protection Law related to involving children in activities that could endanger them. The allegation falls under Article 76H in conjunction with Article 87 of Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection.

If convicted under those provisions, the suspects could face a prison term of up to five years and a maximum fine of Rp100 million.

Police are also pursuing allegations of economic exploitation under Article 76I in conjunction with Article 88 of the same law. That charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp200 million.

The separate legal provisions reflect two concerns raised by the case: the alleged placement of children in a potentially harmful public situation and the alleged use of money to exploit them. The eventual outcome will depend on the evidence presented through the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.

Children’s Safety at the Center of the Investigation

The case has drawn attention to the risks children can face when they are brought into politically charged gatherings or public disturbances. Even when minors are not directly involved in violence, large protests and unrest can expose them to rapidly changing and dangerous conditions.

Police have framed the investigation as a child-protection matter, focusing on whether adults used financial promises to influence minors. The inquiry may also clarify whether the alleged recruitment was organized individually or connected to a broader effort.

For families and communities, the case underscores the importance of knowing where children are going, who is encouraging them to attend public events, and whether money or other incentives are being offered. It also highlights why claims involving children require careful investigation, particularly when protests later escalate into riots.

Jakarta Metro Police continue to investigate the three suspects and the financial activity identified so far. Further findings may determine whether additional people, payments, or alleged recruitment efforts were involved in the events surrounding the August 27 protest.