The Jakarta Metro Police has officially decided against applying the Domestic Worker Protection Law (UU PPRT) in a harrowing case involving the alleged exploitation of domestic helpers in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta. The incident, which saw two domestic workers jump from the fourth floor of a boarding house to escape their employers, resulted in one fatality and one victim sustaining severe injuries.
Kombes Pol. Budi Hermanto, the Head of Public Relations for the Jakarta Metro Police, confirmed that investigators are instead charging the three suspects under the Criminal Code (KUHP) Law No. 1 of 2023 and Law No. 23 of 2002 regarding Child Protection.
Explaining the legal decision, Budi noted during a press briefing on Friday (May 8) that the UU PPRT cannot currently be applied. Although passed on April 1, 2026, the law lacks the necessary implementing regulations and is currently in a socialization phase. Consequently, authorities have opted for more established criminal statutes to ensure the suspects face accountability.
The three suspects—identified as the employer, Adriel Viari Purba (AV), and two recruitment agents, T (alias U) and WA (alias Y)—face a maximum potential sentence of 32 years in prison and fines of up to Rp 800 million. The charges encompass serious offenses, including deprivation of liberty under Article 446 of the Criminal Code, human trafficking under Article 445, and the economic exploitation of a minor under Article 76I in conjunction with Article 88 of the Child Protection Law.
According to Budi, these charges are backed by a comprehensive collection of evidence, including victim documents, mobile phones, intercepted digital communications, CCTV footage, and autopsy results. While investigators have yet to find concrete evidence of direct physical or verbal abuse, they have confirmed that the suspects were fully aware that one of the victims was under the age of 18.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police waiting for the surviving victim to recover sufficiently to provide a formal statement. “The victim’s testimony will be the key to our further examination,” Budi stated. Currently, the surviving victim remains under medical care, while the suspects are in police custody. Adriel Viari Purba was detained this week on Tuesday (May 5), while the two recruitment agents have been held since April 29.
The legislative landscape surrounding this case is complex, as the UU PPRT was passed during the House of Representatives (DPR) Plenary Meeting on April 21. While the law is grounded in principles of human rights, justice, and legal certainty, it includes transitional provisions. Notably, these provisions offer specific exemptions for domestic workers under 18 or those already married and employed prior to the law’s effective date—a clause agreed upon with civil society organizations advocating for domestic workers’ rights. The policy mandates that all implementing regulations for the law must be finalized within one year of its enactment.
Summary
The Jakarta Metro Police have decided not to apply the Domestic Worker Protection Law (UU PPRT) in the case of two workers who leaped from a building in Bendungan Hilir to escape exploitation. Investigators stated that the law cannot yet be utilized because it lacks necessary implementing regulations and is still in a socialization phase. Instead, the three suspects, including the employer and two recruitment agents, are being charged under the Criminal Code and the Child Protection Law.
The suspects face a maximum sentence of 32 years in prison and significant fines for charges including human trafficking, deprivation of liberty, and the economic exploitation of a minor. Authorities have gathered substantial evidence, such as digital communications and CCTV footage, and are currently awaiting the recovery of the surviving victim to provide a formal statement. The investigation remains ongoing as the suspects remain in police custody.
