JAKARTA: In one of East Java’s toughest rulings on sexual abuse, the Sumenep District Court has sentenced the head of a local Islamic boarding school (pesantren) to 20 years in prison and chemical castration for assaulting his students.
In a closed-door hearing on Tuesday (Dec 9), a panel of judges led by Andri Lesmana found 51-year-old M. Sahnan guilty of sexually assaulting eight underage students at the Darul Abror Islamic Boarding School in Arjasa district from 2016 to 2024.
The court imposed the maximum prison term of 20 years and ordered him to pay a Rp 5 billion fine, or serve an additional six months if he fails to do so. Judges also issued a rare order for chemical castration and mandated electronic monitoring for the maximum period of two years
The verdict further requires Sahnan’s name and identity to be published in national and regional newspapers.
The ruling exceeded the prosecutors’ request for a 17-year prison sentence. Hanis Aristya Hermwana, head of the General Crime Division at the Sumenep Prosecutor’s Office, said the chemical castration, electronic monitoring and publication of Sahnan’s identity will take place after he completes his 20-year prison term.
“The law stipulates that additional penalties are carried out only after the main sentence has been served,” he said on Thursday, as quoted by Tribunnews.com.
Spokesperson for the Sumenep District Court, Jetha Tri Darmawan, said the sentence is not yet legally binding, as Sahnan is still considering an appeal.
“He still has the opportunity to file an appeal and even request a judicial review, so we are waiting for the legal process to be completed,” he said on Thursday.
Sahnan was arrested by Sumenep Police on June 10 following reports from several parents at the boarding school.
During the trial, it was revealed that he exploited his position as a religious teacher and headmaster to sexually assault students.
One of his methods involved instructing students to bring cold water to his room before forcing them into sexual acts. Victims were reportedly too intimidated to resist due to his status and were threatened to remain silent.
The case came to light after students shared their experiences in a WhatsApp group, which was later seen by their parents.
Eight victims were confirmed in court, although initial investigations suggest there could be more. Victims’ lawyer Slamet Riyadi welcomed the ruling.
“The victims are satisfied with the main sentence, which exceeded the prosecutors’ request of 17 years, and they appreciate the judges’ courage in imposing additional penalties, including chemical castration,” he said.
Slamet stressed that the verdict was particularly appropriate given Sahnan’s position as a religious leader, who was entrusted with protecting his students but instead exploited them.
“The defendant’s actions inflicted deep and lasting psychological trauma on the victims and their families,” he added.
During Sahnan’s sentencing, dozens of students from the boarding school protested outside the court, demanding a severe punishment.
“Two of my friends were victims. One even attempted suicide due to the trauma,” said Melly, one of the demonstrators.
Indonesia first introduced chemical castration as a punishment for sexual offenders against children in 2016.
Under the regulation, offenders eligible for chemical castration include those whose victims died, those who assaulted multiple children and those whose actions caused sexually transmitted diseases, serious physical injuries, mental disorders or reproductive harm to their victims.
Chemical castration involves administering anti-androgen drugs designed to reduce sexual desire, fantasies and arousal in convicted offenders, according to medical experts.
The effects are temporary and typically wear off if the treatment, usually given every three months, is discontinued. Offenders must undergo medical and psychological assessments to determine whether the procedure is feasible for them.
However, medical experts have warned that chemical castration can cause side effects such as osteoporosis, anemia, cardiovascular problems and cognitive impairment.
Human rights groups have argued that the practice constitutes cruel and inhumane treatment, amounts to a form of torture, and violates basic human rights principles.
Despite being in effect for nearly a decade, chemical castration remains a rare sentence, even for offenders who qualify under the law. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
