A high-ranking official has been dismissed from his position at the Jakarta Provincial Government after he was found guilty of workplace sexual harassment during his time in City Hall.

The official, former Jakarta Goods and Services Procurement Agency (BPPBJ) head Blessmiyanda, was suspended from his post in late March as the Jakarta Inspectorate launched an inquiry into allegations that he sexually harassed a female employee – from which he was found guilty recently.

"What Blessmiyanda did was degrading, because there is proof that he did it at the office and during office hours," Jakarta Provincial Government's Regional Secretary Assistant Sigit Wijatmoko said in a statement.

Blessmiyanda has been dismissed from his position and is subject to a 40 percent income reduction for two years, although he still retains his status as a civil servant. It is not yet known where he will be reassigned to at this time.

Sigit said that the provincial government is committed to guarantee the victim's rights, including providing counseling from the Integrated Center for Women and Children Empowerment office (P2TP2A). He added that the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) has suggested that the victim file a police report against Blessmiyanda.

The victim is a staff at the BPPBJ, who reported that she was sexually harassed by her boss to officials at City Hall.

LPSK previously said there may be more victims in the case, though only one has filed an official complaint thus far.

On Tuesday, reporters spotted Blessmiyanda at the Jakarta City Hall, donning his brown civil servant uniform. While he acknowledged his suspension, he didn't say that he had been dismissed.

Blessmiyanda said that he wasn't ashamed or afraid about the sexual harassment allegations against him, even going so far as to send a message to the person who reported him.

"You can quote this: don't let your hatred towards a group [of people] make you unfair," Blessmiyanda told reporters.

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/jakarta-official-found-guilty-of-sexual-harassment-at-city-hall