Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – The National Police began an investigation on Friday of a sexual assault complaint made against Riau Governor Annas Maamun.
"We are questioning the complainant to ascertain whether there is a criminal aspect to this case and if there are any witnesses or evidence," the National Police's deputy director of the general crime unit, Sr. Comr. Toni Hermanto, said on Friday.
Toni said the police would only summon and question Annas if the investigation produced any evidence. He added that sexual harassment and assault cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute because of the frequent lack of any witnesses.
Wide Wirawaty, daughter of former Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member Soemardi Thaher, filed a police report on Sunday, describing an incident that happened in May.
It is understood that the substance of the complaint is that Annas forced Wide to touch him. Wide, 38, told police that the incident happened when she visited the governor's house. She was there to ask for a donation for English-language training for civil servants.
A spokesman for the Riau government, Joserizal Zen, denied the allegation and accused Wide of defamation. Joserizal said the complaint might have been contrived by parties who were unhappy because the governor had cut the budget for several ongoing projects.
In an extraordinary intervention into an investigation of a serious criminal complaint, the chief of the National Police cast doubt on the ability of a 77-year-old man to commit a sex crime on account of old age.
"I know him and I have met him once, is it even possible for a 77 year-old man to do such thing? We will investigate, we don't know for sure," Gen. Sutarman said.