Former headmaster of Abul Barokat boarding school in Lombok is currently in police custody following a BBC Eye investigation that brought to light allegations of sexual abuse against students.
The school’s eponymous leader, Ahmad Imanuddin Sumar, was called ‘Abah’ by his pupils and oversaw the institution for years. The BBC report, featuring unseen recordings and survivor accounts, prompted investigators to reopen the case and bring additional former students to testify.
The story ignited a torrent of support from former pupils, 12 of whom came forward with their own claims of abuse. Police interviewed these students, who described how they were coerced into signing documents attempting to silence them.
Warning: This article contains details of sexual assault.
Parent crowds stormed the school the day after the BBC coverage, demanding their children be removed from the premises. A mother burst into tears, urging her daughter to leave the institution immediately.
The school’s governing body, NWDI, denies any cover‑up and says it is amid internal investigations. As the legal process unfolds, Abah has stepped down but vows to cooperate with authorities. This case underscores urgent reforms needed in Indonesia’s boarding school system to safeguard students from abuse and bring perpetrators to justice.
