Headmaster detained after BBC uncovers sexual abuse at Indonesian boarding school
The former headmaster of Abul Barokat Islamic boarding school on Lombok, Ahmad Imanuddin Sumar, has been arrested by police for alleged sexual abuse following a BBC Eye investigation. The case, which resurfaced after students' evidence was brought to the authorities, has sparked national outrage.
How the investigation unfolded
Two former students, Ziadatur Rahmah (Zia) and Sukma Rohana Fajar, began their own inquiry when Zia told a friend that the school leader had assaulted her when she was 17. Gathering testimony from classmates, they compiled a seven‑page dossier that was handed to the school’s managing body, the Nahdlatul Wathan Diniyah Islamiyah (NWDI). Instead of supporting the students, the organization pressured them to retract their statements. A secretly recorded call in which the headmaster pleaded for his reputation came to light when Zia shared it with the BBC.
The BBC’s report prompted the police to re‑open the charges and detain Sumar. In a news conference, the headmaster denied the allegations but admitted the voice on the recordings was his. He has since resigned.
More students coming forward
In the days after the story, parents began arriving at the school, and twelve additional former pupils provided testimony to law enforcement. The students reported feeling isolated until the investigation, and they now call for an admission of culpability from the former headmaster.
NWDI denied any cover‑up and said it was conducting its own internal inquiry. The organization pledged reforms to protect students and prevent future abuses.
The case highlights the need for stronger safeguarding measures in religious schools and demonstrates the power of citizen reporting in seeking justice.
