A former headmaster of an Islamic boarding school in Lombok, Indonesia, has been named a suspect in a sexual‑abuse investigation and is now in police custody.
Ahmad Imanuddin Sumar, affectionately called Abah by students, ran the Abul Barokat boarding school for many years. The BBC’s Eye unit uncovered accusations that he sexually assaulted several pupils, with former students compiling evidence and filing complaints with school officials.
Three days before the BBC report, police reopened the case after a BBC World Service article detailed the allegations and highlighted how ex‑students had gathered documents and voices to bring the matter to justice. Public reaction was swift, and another dozen former students came forward with similar claims.
Key student investigators include Ziadatur Rahmah (Zia) and Sukma Rohana Fajar. Together they led an independent inquiry after Zia revealed a 17‑year‑old victim’s story. They presented a seven‑page dossier and secretly recorded conversations with Abah, which were later supplied to the BBC.
In response, Awal’s school, managed by the Nahdlatul Wathan Diniyah Islamiyah organization, denied any cover‑up and said it was conducting an internal inquiry. The headmaster has since resigned, stating he will comply with the legal process.
Police are now interviewing the remaining students, and the incident has prompted parents to withdraw their children from the school. The case highlights the growing demand for accountability in Indonesia’s boarding‑school system.
The BBC pulled a news conference where Abah denied the allegations but acknowledged the recordings of his voice had been released.
Authorities and the school vow to close any loophole that may allow future abuse and to protect current pupils from harm.
