Jakarta Police Arrest Two Ex-Starbucks Employees for Online Sexual Harassment

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Police arrested two former Starbucks employees suspected of online sexual harassment of an unsuspecting female customer in one of the franchise's Jakarta outlets.

Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Yusri Yunus said that the suspects, identified only as "D" and "K", were taken into custody on Thursday evening. 

“The North Jakarta Police Department are currently questioning [D and K] as their crime occurred in Sunter, North Jakarta. They did not resist arrest,” he said on Friday, July 3.

He confirmed that the employees’ actions violated Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transaction Laws (UU ITE). However, Yusri did not say who told on D and K.

Also read: Starbucks Indonesia Fires Employee for Online Sexual Harassment of Customer

The Antara state news agency hinted that one of the perpetrators has a personal motive.

“One of the suspects has a crush on the victim,” Antara quoted Yusri as saying. “He also knew the victim and has her cell phone number.”

The fallout

Starbucks Indonesia fired D and K for uploading a CCTV footage of the victim's legs and breasts.

Senior PR and Communications General Manager Andrea Siahaan of PT Sari Coffee Indonesia, Starbucks’ Indonesian subsidiary, apologized for the incident.

Also read: Jakarta Police Arrest US National Suspected of Pedophilia 

“We find the employees’ behaviour and actions intolerable. We can confirm that they are no longer employed by us,” Andrea told Kompas.com in a written statement on Thursday, July 2.

“Their actions are counter to [Starbucks’] ongoing efforts to make [customers] feel safe and comfortable in our outlets.”

D and K uploaded CCTV footage of the victim’s legs and breasts at Starbucks' branch in Sunter Mall, North Jakarta on 1 July 1.

They were also heard ogling the victim in the video. Netizens, particularly on Twitter, erupted with outrage at the video.

(Writer: Walda Marison | Editor : Jessi Carina) 

Sources:

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/07/03/12392511/polisi-tangkap-dua-karyawan-starbucks-yang-lecehkan-pelanggan-lewat-cctv. 

https://www.antaranews.com/berita/1588618/pengintip-pengunjung-starbucks-via-cctv-mengaku-kenal-dengan-korban