By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-19 10:31:50 | Updated at 2024-12-19 12:48:56
2 hours ago
A video showing a female bakery employee being assaulted by an ethnic Chinese man has gone viral in Indonesia, igniting an online firestorm that experts say reflects entrenched prejudices against the Chinese-Indonesian community and long-standing historical traumas within the country’s multi-ethnic society.
The assailant, identified as 35-year-old Cakung resident George Sugama Halim – the son of the bakery chain’s owners – was taken into custody on Monday.
The victim, 19-year-old bakery employee Dwi Ayu, testified under oath before a parliamentary committee that she was attacked on October 17 after refusing to deliver George’s online food order to his bedroom because she did believe it was part of her job responsibilities.
Her lawyers had lobbied MPs to give her a hearing, amid speculation—though unconfirmed—that George’s family is said to be on good terms with the police.
This situation has raised concerns about the police’s slow response, which has come under public scrutiny. The police have denied any claims of inaction, emphasising their commitment to managing the situation effectively.
“I threatened him I would report him to the police”, Dwi told the committee on Tuesday. “But he jeeringly replied, ‘You’re a poor nobody, and I’m rich and above the law, so dream on!’”
