Little Aresha daycare trial opens abuse allegations against 13 defendants
Prosecutors alleged children were swaddled or tied while eating and sleeping, and parents were barred from the daycare area.
The first hearing in the child abuse case at Daycare Little Aresha Yogyakarta outlined a care pattern prosecutors charged involved 13 defendants, from caregivers and the school principal to foundation officials. At the Yogyakarta District Court on Tuesday (18/8/2026), prosecutors said children left in the facility were first separated from their parents because pickup staff were barred from entering the daycare area. In the indictment, children were repeatedly described as having their clothes removed, then being swaddled or tied at the body or legs so they could not move much. Prosecutors also accused staff of feeding children while they were still restrained, even when they were crying or in pain. CNN Indonesia reported one case file tried 11 caregivers, while Republika said the total was 13 defendants, including Diyah Kusumastuti from Yayasan Aresha Indonesia Center.