Jakarta – National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait says the Jakarta Police have wasted too much time in investigating a molestation case involving cleric Hasan Jafar Assegaf despite testimony from all the victims and evidence they have collected.

"We have sent a letter to them to support the investigation, but also to remind them that they are very slow," Arist told The Jakarta Post on Monday. "No one is immune when it comes to law enforcement, even if the alleged suspect is a prominent individual."

Arist said the courts would decide later whether Hasan was guilty or not, calling on police not to be afraid of the effects their investigation might have.

He said police had to remain impartial and proceed faster with the case, for the sake of the children involved, as well as to save Hasan from false accusations.

The Jakarta Police's head of the teenager, child and women division, Adj. Sr. Comr. Hando Wibowo, said the police were being "careful" in handling the case. "We should consider the fact that he is a group leader, so we don't want to rush. So, please give us time," he said on Monday.

Hando said police were still investigating the case. "We never stopped," he said, adding that police had summoned 12 people, including the victims, their families and people in Hasan's circle, to gather more information.

Hasan, an influential cleric, was accused of sexually abusing some of his male students in December 2011. He is alleged to have abused students since 2002.

Hasan allegedly groped his disciples and performed oral sex on them in what he claimed was part of an alternative healing therapy. The victims filed reports with the Jakarta Police in December 2011. (fzm/dic)