Toddler Abused for Refusing to Eat, Child Caregiver in Palembang Arrested by Police

PALEMBANG, KOMPAS.com - A 2-year-old girl in Palembang, South Sumatra, was abused by her own caregiver, NS (37), after refusing to eat.

DAS (30), the child's mother, subsequently filed a police report.

NS has now been arrested by the Directorate of Women and Children Protection and Human Trafficking Investigation (Ditreskrim PPA and PPO) of the South Sumatra Regional Police.

The Director of Ditreskrim PPA and PPO Polda Sumsel, Police Commissioner Andes Purwanti, stated that the abuse occurred on Wednesday (16/9/2026) at the victim's home in the Sukarami district of Palembang.

NS contacted the child's mother via text message, admitting to beating the child for refusing to eat.

“At that time, the child's mother was out of town and immediately returned to Palembang, requesting that her child be handed over to the family,” said Andes on Saturday (19/8/2026).

The next day, the family received a video recording from a neighbor showing the suspected abuse of the child.

In the footage, the victim can be seen being strangled, slapped, and kicked by NS.

“In the recording, the suspect is seen hitting, slapping, and choking the victim until she cried, leaving bruises on the child's chin,” Andes explained.

Suspect Arrested

Following the report, Ditreskrim PPA and PPO Polda Sumsel conducted an investigation to identify and locate the suspect.

“Officers conducted an investigation and search for the abuser and succeeded in arresting her on Friday, 18 September 2026 at around 3:10 p.m. WIB in the Kemuning area of Palembang,” he said.

Upon arrest, NS admitted to the abuse.

She is currently detained at the South Sumatra Regional Police jail and is charged under Article 80 of Law Number 35 of 2014, which amends Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection.

“The suspect has confessed. We also seized evidence including one piece of clothing belonging to the suspect, one piece of clothing belonging to the victim, and one storage device containing the video recording of the abuse that had previously circulated on social media,” Andes added.