INDONESIA (TR) – The Japanese Embassy in Indonesia on May 13 issued a stern warning to expatriates and tourists after a series of disturbing social media posts in Japanese emerged boasting about child prostitution, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (May 14).
According to the embassy, numerous posts have surfaced online in which Japanese users admit to purchasing sex from minors they knew to be under the age of 18. The illicit activities allegedly took place in the capital city of Jakarta and the neighboring city of Bekasi.
The brazen online confessions have triggered a swift response from local law enforcement. Jakarta police authorities confirmed that a cybercrime task force has officially launched an investigation to track down the individuals behind the accounts.
The scandal has also sparked outrage across the country, catching the attention of major local media outlets. The leading daily newspaper Kompas reported that police initiated their probe after the “heartbreaking” posts began spreading rapidly online.
In its official notice, the Japanese Embassy urged citizens to strictly adhere to local laws, highlighting that in Indonesia, sexual intercourse with a minor can result in severe rape charges, regardless of whether there was consent.
Furthermore, the embassy issued a stark reminder that offenders cannot simply fly home to escape the consequences. Suspects who evade local crackdowns will still face arrest and prosecution under anti-child prostitution and pornography laws upon their return to Japan.
