Central Lombok Islamic Boarding School Leader Skips Interrogation in Alleged Sexual Violence Case
LOMBOK TENGAH, KOMPAS.com - The scheduled questioning of the suspect in an alleged sexual violence case, Tuan Guru Haji (TGH) Muhammad Imanuddin Sumar, at the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) of the Central Lombok Police's Criminal Investigation Unit on Thursday (9/24/2026), was canceled as he failed to appear citing illness.
In addition to Imanuddin, his wife, Hurmiyati, who had previously missed a witness examination on Wednesday (9/23/2026), was also absent again.
The leader of Abul Barokat Wannafahat Islamic Boarding School in Bunkate Village, Central Lombok, known as Abah, also requested a postponement of the hearing.
Only Imanuddin’s legal counsel attended the Central Lombok Police. The lawyer conveyed that his client had requested to reschedule the examination.
"Yes, we have filed a postponement and requested to delay it until Monday," said Yuda Adiya Maatfa on Thursday (9/24/2026) in Central Lombok.
Alongside Abah and his wife, a witness from the boarding school environment, the suspect's driver with the initials MHR—who is also alleged to have committed sexual violence against the same victims—was scheduled to be questioned. All three requested postponement until Monday (9/28/2026).
Yuda explained that they were still drafting a report and planned to file a complaint with West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police regarding actions taken by Mochammad Yusron Azzahidi, a former student who exposed allegations of sexual violence by Abah based on evidence and confessions from several female students.
"We will also issue a formal notice to BBC News and file a report to the Press Council concerning biased reporting," Yuda added.
Yuda emphasized that the reports would only be directed at Yusron and BBC News. The five victims are not being reported since the case surfaced after Yusron disseminated a draft or text regarding the alleged sexual harassment, which Abah’s side disputes as possibly inaccurate.
"Abah firmly maintains that he did not commit sexual violence and continues to hold that belief," he stated.
Regarding a voice recording of Abah circulating, which contains statements about the impact of the news coverage on himself, the boarding school, and the NWDI organization, Yuda explained that the recording was part of an effort for tabayyun or clarification, not a confession.
The voice recording was Abah's attempt to confirm or clarify a document containing evidence and a chronology of victims’ confessions compiled by Yusron over seven pages.
Abah is said to have begged Yusron to retract the text as it was deemed defamatory. Yuda described Abah pleading and even crying.
"He cried, begging for that (the chronology and confessions) to be withdrawn to prevent the issue from spiraling out of control, to avoid public anger, and to protect the boarding school," Yuda said.
