Indonesian church worker jailed for molesting altar boys

A church employee in Indonesia has been sentenced to fifteen years in jail for sexually assaulting altar boys following the first-ever sexual abuse trial in a civil courtroom involving the Indonesian Catholic Church.

Depok District Courtroom in West Java convicted Syahril Marbun on Jan. 6 for abusing two altar boys at St. Herkulanus Parish in Depok in Bogor Diocese, the place he served as liturgical coordinator.

He was additionally ordered to pay a tremendous of 200 million rupiah (US$14,360) and to compensate the 2 victims, aged 14 and 15, with 6.5 million and 11.5 million rupiah respectively. 

The sentence was harsher than the 11 years demanded by prosecutors. The choose mentioned it was as a result of Marbun abused his place as an educator and information to the boys.

The courtroom was instructed the abuse started in 2002 and solely led to March 2020 when the case got here to mild.

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A father or mother of one of many victims found what was occurring and reported it to church officers, together with the bishops’ Fee for Justice, Peace and Migrant-Itinerant Folks.

St. Herkulanus parish priest Father Yosep Sirilus Natet, who backed the authorized motion taken towards Marbun, was with the victims’ households when the decision was learn.

The daddy of one of many victims mentioned he was happy with the decision.

“The ruling exhibits that the choose acknowledged the gravity of this case and the menace Marbun posed to minors,” he instructed UCA Information.

He additionally mentioned the sentence “proves that our resolution to take authorized motion was appropriate.”

He mentioned the households had been accused by some individuals of embarrassing the Catholic Church.

Azas Tigor Nainggolan, the victims’ lawyer, mentioned the decision was a shock as a result of from his expertise it is extremely uncommon for a choose handy down a heavier sentence than that demanded by prosecutors.

“We really feel that our prayers have been answered,” the Catholic lawyer instructed UCA Information.

He mentioned Marbun would probably face further jail time as he additionally faces fees of abusing different victims, including investigations had revealed there have been a minimum of 22 victims.

“One other good factor is different victims of such crimes will probably come ahead as a result of the perpetrator on this case has been discovered responsible,” he mentioned.

Kids’s rights activists say baby abuse usually goes unreported in Indonesia as a consequence of social stigma and the idea that authorities are unwilling handy down stiff sentences.   

“I hope whoever they’re will dare to show such crimes,” Nainggolan mentioned.