Indonesian police raided the "Little Aresha" daycare center in Yogyakarta city, arresting 13 suspects after CCTV footage showed toddlers tied by hands and feet with cloth strips, left lying on the floor, and confined in a small room. More than 50 children were found to be victims of abuse, and the center was operating without a license. /
The case has sparked nationwide outrage as Indonesian police announced the arrest of 13 suspects, including 11 caregivers, the head teacher, and the foundation chairperson, following the release of evidence showing abuse of toddlers inside the "Little Aresha" daycare in Yogyakarta.
The raid occurred after a former employee, unable to tolerate the behavior, reported it to police. The leaked CCTV footage, confirmed authentic by authorities, showed mostly children under two years old wearing only diapers, with their hands and feet tied with cloth strips, left lying on the floor.
Authorities also found about 20 children confined together in a cramped 3x3 meter room. The Yogyakarta police chief stated that out of 103 registered children, at least 53 were victims of physical abuse or neglect.
The police commissioner revealed that the suspects claimed they tied the children to prevent them from disturbing others, and said the daycare was understaffed, lacking sufficient personnel to properly bathe or dress the children.
Nurman Windarto, father of a 2-year-old victim, expressed his pain, saying he was shocked when asked to immediately pick up his son, later learning his child was among those tied up. "My heart almost broke. My wife cried. We never thought the caregivers, who seemed gentle and religious, could do this," he said.
Nurman said he paid about 1.1 million rupiahs per child per month, despite his 6-year-old daughter previously returning home with bruises, which the center attributed to playing. His son had been hospitalized several times for pneumonia, leading him to suspect it was related to being left on a cold floor without clothing.
Several parents said they were convinced by the daycare's strong branding—air-conditioned rooms, complete equipment, and diverse play activities—as well as the polite, gentle, and seemingly moral demeanor of staff. However, behind this facade was cruelty, with some children so fearful they appeared dazed and cried intensely whenever attending.
Initial investigations found "Little Aresha" was operating without a license. The authorities have permanently closed the daycare. All suspects face charges under child protection laws, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and fines up to 100 million rupiahs (approximately 18,800 Thai baht). Additional charges may follow depending on evidence.
This is not the first time Indonesia has faced allegations of child abuse in institutions meant to care for children. In 2024, another daycare in Depok, south of Jakarta, was investigated after CCTV footage showed a woman abusing two toddlers.
Subsequent investigations by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) found that out of over 100 daycare centers in the city, less than 20% were licensed. According to KPAI data, there are about 3,000 daycare centers nationwide, many operating without licenses, including Little Aresha.
Hasto Wardoyo, mayor of Yogyakarta, has pledged to inspect the remaining daycare centers in the city and raise public awareness about choosing certified childcare services.