Boy Bullied to Death: One Perpetrator Sent to a Rehabilitation Centre for Six Months, One Witness Placed in a Boarding School

One child, who is still a witness in the case of alleged bullying leading to the death of a child with a disability in Surabaya, has been placed in an Islamic boarding school. Meanwhile, another child, suspected of being the perpetrator, is undergoing rehabilitation at the ‘Rumah Perubahan’ facility run by the Surabaya City Council.

As reported by detikJatim on Tuesday (20 October 2026), Surabaya City Police Chief Kombes Luthfie Sulistiawan stated that the placement of the child, who is still a witness, at the Islamic boarding school was intended to ensure that the child would not be seen by the victim’s family, who live next door. To date, the handling of this witness’s case is still ongoing.

“As for the child witness, the case is currently still being processed whilst awaiting several steps that are currently being taken, and for the time being, with the consent of his parents, he has been placed at an Islamic boarding school to receive an education and to ensure he is not seen by the victim’s family, as they live next door,” said Luthfie.

According to him, this decision was taken after considering the child’s social and psychological circumstances. “Following a social and psychological assessment, it was agreed – and the parents themselves stated – that the child would be sent to one of the Islamic boarding schools,” he added.

Meanwhile, a child in conflict with the law (ABH) involved in a case of violence against a disabled child, which resulted in the child’s death, will undergo rehabilitation at the ‘Rumah Perubahan’ facility run by the Surabaya City Council. The child will undergo rehabilitation for six months, with regular evaluations.

“It has been decided, with the agreement of the relevant parties and in the presence of witnesses—namely the decision-makers—that the child, in this case the perpetrator, is to undergo rehabilitation at the ‘Rumah Perubahan’ under the auspices of the Surabaya City Council for a period of six months,” said Luthfie.