A senior Indonesian military officer accused of sexually abusing an elementary school student has fled custody while under investigation, exposing critical gaps in the country's military justice system and raising urgent questions about accountability within the armed forces.
Sertu Majib Bone, a sergeant first class stationed at Kodim 1417 Kendari, disappeared during questioning at the military command headquarters in Southeast Sulawesi. The suspect is accused of sexually abusing a female elementary school student, identified only as "Bunga" (a pseudonym), in Ranomeeto subdistrict, South Konawe Regency, on April 14, 2026.
According to local reporting by Kendariinfo, the victim has suffered severe psychological trauma, experiencing depression and self-harm following the alleged assault. The child's aunt, identified by the initials VN, confirmed the victim's deteriorating mental health condition.
The case has drawn particular attention because of the suspect's prominent position within both military and civilian spheres. Bone served as chairman of Kushin Ryu M Karate-Do Indonesia (KKI) for Kendari city from 2025 to 2029, having been inaugurated at Kodim 1417 headquarters in February 2025. He also operated as a property developer with residential projects across Southeast Sulawesi, including developments in Kolaka, South Konawe, Muna, and Buton.
In his military capacity, Bone functioned as a Bintara Pembina Desa (Babinsa), or Village Development NCO, in Poasia subdistrict, Kendari. This role positions him as the Indonesian Army's frontline representative for territorial development, responsible for maintaining security, public order, and assisting communities—a position requiring high public trust.
Lieutenant Colonel CPM Haryadi Budaya Pela, commander of Denpom XIV/3 Kendari (the military police detachment), confirmed that the suspect escaped before formal transfer to military police custody. "The perpetrator had not yet been handed over to us. When he was being interrogated at Kodim, the person concerned managed to flee," Pela stated on April 29.
The case highlights structural weaknesses in Indonesia's military justice system, which operates parallel to the civilian courts. Under Indonesian law, active-duty military personnel accused of crimes are prosecuted through military tribunals rather than civilian courts—a dual system that has long drawn criticism from human rights organizations.
The fact that a suspect under investigation for child sexual abuse could flee from a military installation raises questions about detention protocols and accountability mechanisms within the TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia). In Indonesia, as across archipelagic democracies, unity in diversity requires constant negotiation across islands, ethnicities, and beliefs—but fundamental protections for vulnerable citizens must remain non-negotiable.
The Indonesian military has made significant efforts to professionalize since the end of the Suharto era, withdrawing from direct political involvement and implementing reforms to improve human rights practices. However, cases like this underscore the ongoing challenges in ensuring military personnel face appropriate accountability for alleged crimes, particularly those involving civilians.
Child protection advocates have called for the case to be transferred to civilian jurisdiction, arguing that military courts lack the specialized training and victim-centered approaches necessary for prosecuting child sexual abuse cases. The Southeast Sulawesi regional government has not yet commented on whether it will seek to assert civilian jurisdiction.
As of early May 2026, Bone remains at large, with military police actively searching for him across the province. The victim continues to receive psychological support, though her family has expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation and concerns about whether military authorities can deliver justice.
The case arrives as Indonesia strengthens its legal framework for protecting children from sexual violence, following years of advocacy by civil society organizations. The outcome of this investigation will serve as an important test of whether those reforms can penetrate institutional boundaries—including the military's traditionally insular justice system.
