Many parents of the girls allegedly molested by a Koran recital teacher at Ibtidaiyah Al Marfuah Islamic school in Kebon Bawang, North Jakarta, are ready to drop their complaints due to "insensitive" police investigators, according to one parent.

Officers from Women's and Children's Protection Unit (UPPA) of the North Jakarta Police questioned on Wednesday five students who alleged that their Koran recital teacher molested them.

The girls were later taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta for evaluation by a physician and completion of forensic medical evaluation reports (VER) for police.

The 72-year-old teacher, identified as KC, allegedly sexually assaulted more than 30 aged 7- to 9-year-old female students.

Several parents said they were "annoyed" with the investigation, claiming that officers had been asking the girls personal and irrelevant questions.

"The women police officers asked the children about the physical shape of the perpetrator. They also asked the girls to demonstrate how [the assaults] happened," Nuri, a parent who declined to use her real name, said at North Jakarta Police headquarters on Thursday.

"When the children demonstrated how it happened, I was shocked and felt faint," said another parent who accompanied her daughter for questioning.

Most parents were reportedly uncomfortable with how the police were conducting the investigation and would not continue legal proceedings, Nuri said. "But I will do whatever it takes and take the risk because I want justice. I have gone this far, I am not going to step back," she said.

Marlina, a Women's Aspiration Foundation representative who has been assisting the victims, said parents were worried that the police would not forward the case to prosecutors if they declined to have their children questioned by investigators.

"The process has been tough. Some people have also intimidated parents, saying that if the doctor's report did not support their allegations, they would be sued," she said.

Marlina said that many residents had long been suspicious of the teacher but chose not to speak up as he was an influential figure in the neighborhood. "KC is also a religious leader, a former subdistrict head, as well as an adviser for a political party. No one would dare to oppose him," she said.

Marlina said KC had been detained by the North Jakarta Police last month after a parent filed a complaint alleging that his child had been sexually assaulted by the teacher.

However, the police arranged an out-of-court settlement, requiring KC to admit to deviant behavior and requiring him sign an agreement to be released, she said.

"The agreement said he was not allowed to lead mass prayers or teach and he had to move away and close the school temporarily. He had to apologize to the parents as well."

Tumbu Saraswati from the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), said that shoddy investigation of sex crimes was a second trauma for victims. "More than 30 victim statements are more than enough evidence. However, the [VER] report is important too." (swd)