Police to Drop Rape Case Against Solo King

A Royal Mess: King Pakubuwono XIII faces allegations of rape and child trafficking, but a lack of ‘solid evidence’ may ultimately clear him of any wrongdoing

Jakarta Globe, Ari Susanto, Feb 23, 2015

King of Solo Pakubuwono XIII is shown here in this file photo.
(Antara Photo/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

Solo. Police have announced that an investigation into allegations of child trafficking and sexual abuse against the King of Solo, Pakubuwono XIII, will be discontinued due to lack of evidence.

Sukoharjo Police in Central Java revealed they did not have grounds to interrogate Pakubowono XIII, who has been accused of raping a 16-year-old girl and fathering her child.

Police have questioned several witnesses in the case, but none gave sufficient testimony about the king’s involvement in the alleged rape other than the victim.

Without additional testimony, the allegations are too weak to prove, Sukoharjo Police chief, Adj. Sr. Cmr. Andy Rifai said.

“We need at least one additional witness who can confirm the victim’s accusations before we can bring the king in for questioning,” he added.

Police have also searched for evidence in the hotel room where the rape allegedly took place.

However, investigators were unable to retrieve the necessary CCTV footage as the hotel’s security device automatically overwrites previously recorded videos every two months.

The victim claims she was raped in March last year but did not report the incident to the police until July.

Investigators are still searching for a former hotel employee who may be a key witness of the alleged assault.

The 10th grade vocational high school  student claims a woman with the initials W.T. offered to give her a job working for the king but instead “sold” her for Rp 2 million ($155).

W.T. is currently being held in a Solo, Central Java, prison, but her testimony did not correspond to that of the victim’s.

The student also claims she lost consciousness in car after eating candy given to her by the king. She then woke up naked in a hotel room with Pakubowono XIII, who proceeded to give her money.

The girl fell pregnant and gave birth to a son in Solo Central Hospital in November.  The king, through his lawyer, has refused to provide a DNA sample to conduct a paternity test.

Sukoharjo Police are reluctant to name a suspect due to the severe lack of evidence, Andy said. As the girl was allegedly raped while unconscious, her testimony requires further corroboration, he added.

The victim’s lawyer has called on the king to undergo a DNA test, but police have yet to follow up on the demands.

Investigators have earlier said they would approach Pakubowono XIII with a request for a DNA sample should he refuse to come in for questioning.