Police arrest 13 caregivers over alleged abuse at unlicensed facility in Yogyakarta.
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Authorities in Indonesia have arrested 13 female staff members, including the owner and principal, after discovering widespread abuse at a daycare centre in Yogyakarta.
Police say more than 100 children aged between 2 and 6 were found at the facility, with some allegedly tied up, restrained, and physically mistreated. Officers also reported that children were slapped and pinched, allegedly to make them “more manageable.”
The daycare, known as Little Aresha, was reportedly operating without a licence and had been in business since 2018. Investigators say it was overcrowded, with dozens of children packed into small rooms far beyond recommended care limits.
Parents expressed shock, saying they initially believed their children were reluctant to attend the centre, unaware of the alleged abuse taking place inside.
The case has triggered national outrage and renewed calls for stricter regulation and monitoring of Indonesia’s growing childcare sector, much of which operates with limited oversight.
Officials say the investigation is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of June, after which formal charges may be filed.
