Three Years in Darkness: Severe Abuse in a Dating Relationship and Where Is the Protection for Victims?

JurnalPost.com - Mid 2026 marked a turning point for the family of YTR, a woman from Rancaekek District, Bandung Regency, who had lived for nearly three years in uncertainty without any word.

YTR was found in critical condition with injuries all over her body. It was then that the public learned that behind the disappearance of a woman lay suspected captivity and abuse that had lasted for years without being detected by those around her.

The perpetrator was not a stranger, but TH, the victim's own boyfriend.

Information regarding how the two first met has varied between sources. Police stated they met through a dating app, while several media reports mentioned the first meeting occurred at a music concert in Bandung City on 2023.

What remains relatively consistent is the timeframe. Their relationship began around 2023 until early 2024. Not long after, YTR, who was then working at a food factory in Bandung, decided to live with TH without being married.

This article discusses the perspective of law students concerned with law enforcement and victim protection regarding the case of alleged captivity and severe abuse committed by TH against YTR. Furthermore, this article discusses the factors that allowed the violence to persist for so long without being discovered and how the state guarantees protection, recovery, and restitution for victims.

Three Years Living Under Control

Since living together, their lives turned into a series of moves from one residence to another. At least four moves were recorded between May 2024 and June 2026, ranging from the Cicaheum, Krisna Jaya, and Cilengkrang areas to a rented house on Gang Mesjid, Cinunuk Village, Cileunyi District.

The latter location is suspected to be where YTR experienced captivity for the longest period.

This pattern of moving coincided with the restriction of the victim's communication. YTR was reportedly forbidden from holding or using a mobile phone freely. As a result, her contact with the outside world, including her own family, was almost completely severed.

Throughout that period, YTR's family was not idle.

The victim had told her family that she was moving to Majalengka for work to earn a higher wage. However, when the family tried to trace her whereabouts, YTR was never found.

On another occasion, the victim claimed to be working at a media company in Jakarta.

The stories about YTR's whereabouts and employment, which kept changing, were allegedly used to convince the family that she was away working, rather than being in a dangerous situation.

When the victim's phone number could no longer be reached, the family tried to find her through Facebook, even posting a public search notice to gain any leads from the community.

However, the family instead received responses asking them not to interfere.

“And it was responded to by the victim that the family should not manage the person concerned because she is already an adult,” said Rudi, one of the victim's relatives, mimicking the reply received by the family.

In cases of violence occurring within closed relationships, communication that appears to come from the victim can be one way to maintain distance between the victim and those who could potentially provide help.

Victim Found in Critical Condition

YTR's whereabouts were finally discovered on 10 June 2026 after the family received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The message informed them that YTR was in the Emergency Room of Hasan Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) Bandung.

The medical team found a number of old scars that reinforced the suspicion that the violence did not occur in a single event, but rather took place repeatedly.

The injuries suffered by the victim were classified as severe, ranging from eye damage to permanent blindness, lip injuries, wounds from sharp objects, and cigarette burn marks. This condition caused the victim to have difficulty speaking, an inability to walk normally, and visual impairment.

The family then reported the case to the West Java Regional Police on 12 June 2026 with report number LP/B/1145/VI/2026.

The person who brought the victim to the hospital is suspected to be TH himself. After the victim received medical attention, TH allegedly left the location.

The West Java Regional Police then formed a joint team to search for the suspect. TH was finally arrested at a boarding house in Majalengka on 23 June 2026, about 13 days after the victim's whereabouts were discovered.

In a press conference on 26 June 2026, West Java Police Chief Inspector General Rudi Setiawan stated that the violence was suspected to have been committed repeatedly since May 2024 and was triggered by the perpetrator's annoyance and jealousy.

West Java Police Public Relations Head Senior Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan also mentioned that the pressure of TH's job as a debt collector was a factor being investigated by detectives. TH was said to frequently vent his frustration over unmet collection targets on the victim after returning from work.

The suspect's family described TH as a temperamental person who enjoyed consuming alcoholic beverages and possessed high levels of jealousy. Investigators then involved psychiatric experts to examine the suspect's psychological condition.

Another finding of concern is TH's status as a recidivist in cases of violence against women. He had previously been convicted in a case of assault against his ex-wife. That history could be a factor considered in the legal process.

Vulnerability of Victims of Violence in Dating Relationships

The YTR case shows that violence in personal relationships without marriage bonds still leaves issues within the framework of legal protection in Indonesia.

The violence that allegedly lasted for years without being detected shows the importance of increasing social sensitivity as well as early detection mechanisms for violence occurring in private spaces.

Violence in personal relationships can take the form of not only physical violence but also psychological, economic, and sexual violence, stalking, and various forms of control that limit the victim's freedom.

From the perspective of criminal law, the National Criminal Code or Law Number 1 of 2023 provides a number of provisions that can be examined in cases like this, including provisions regarding severe assault and criminal acts against a person's liberty.

In addition, Law Number 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes is also an important instrument if elements of sexual violence are found during the investigation process.

The application of several criminal provisions simultaneously needs to be based on the facts and evidence obtained during the investigation process as well as the legal construction used by law enforcement.

Every criminal act protects different legal interests, ranging from bodily safety and personal freedom to the dignity and integrity of the victim.

The Importance of Forensic Evidence

The victim's condition, which includes visual impairment, speech difficulties, and limited walking ability, shows the severity of the impact of the violence experienced.

Therefore, forensic evidence is an important part of the legal process.

A visum et repertum, medical records, doctor's statements, forensic experts, and forensic psychologists can be used to link the victim's physical and psychological condition to the series of violent events being investigated.

Such evidence is also important for determining the elements of the criminal act that can be applied to the suspect.

In the prosecution and trial process, a number of circumstances can be considered as aggravating factors, including the duration of the violence, the relationship of trust between the victim and the perpetrator, the level of injury suffered by the victim, and the perpetrator's previous legal history.

Victim Losses Are Not Only Physical

The spotlight on this case also raises questions about whether the sentencing of the perpetrator will reflect the magnitude of the losses suffered by the victim.

This is relevant considering TH was previously sentenced to 1 years and 4 months in prison in another assault case.

The YTR case shows that the impact of violence can be permanent and multidimensional.

The victim not only suffered loss of vision, lip injuries, speech impairment, and walking difficulties, but also material losses estimated to reach Rp52 million as well as long-term psychological trauma due to the alleged coercive control over many years.

Therefore, protection for the victim should not stop at the process of punishing the perpetrator.

The victim also requires health recovery, psychological rehabilitation, protection, legal assistance, and restitution mechanisms in accordance with the provisions of statutory regulations.

The case is still in the legal process, so the court's decision will be the final determinant regarding whether the charges are proven and the type and severity of the sentence to be imposed.

What Still Needs to Be Improved

The case of alleged captivity and abuse of YTR shows how violence in personal relationships can occur almost undetected, even by the victim's immediate family, when someone succeeds in controlling their partner's space and communication.

This case simultaneously opens a discussion regarding legal protection for victims of violence in dating relationships or cohabitation without marriage.

Several steps can be considered to strengthen protection for victims.

First, further study is needed regarding the scope of legal protection against violence in dating relationships and cohabitation relationships that are not bound by marriage.

Second, community-based early detection mechanisms need to be strengthened. Owners or managers of boarding houses and rented properties, for example, can be given education to recognize indications of serious violence against tenants without ignoring privacy rights.

Third, psychosocial support services for survivors of violence need to be long-term. Recovery does not end when the victim leaves the hospital or the case is finished in court. Survivors may need support to restore their physical, psychological, social, and economic health.

Ultimately, the YTR case serves as a reminder of the importance of sensitivity to signs of violence hidden behind relationships that appear normal from the outside.

This case also serves as evaluation material for policymakers and law enforcement officials so that every victim of violence in personal relationships, regardless of their relationship status, has clear access to legal protection, recovery, support, and justice.

Bibliography

Journal

1. Antoni, A., Khotimah, N. K., & Firmansyah, M. (2026). “Analysis of the Application of Criminal Sanctions against Perpetrators of Assault Based on the Criminal Code (KUHP).” Indonesian Journal of Innovation Multidisipliner Research, 4(3), 9231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.69693/ijim.v4i3.2134

2. Masyithah, S., Puluhulawa, M. R. U., & Achir, N. (2024). “Criminal Acts of Violence in Dating and Forms of Accountability.” Politika Progresif: Journal of Law, Politics and Humanities, 1(3), 167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62383/progres.v1i3,507

3. Santoso, B. (2025). “Legal Protection for Victims of Sexual Violence Based on the Sexual Violence Law (UU TPKS).” Media Hukum Indonesia, 4(1), 989. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18005371

4. Ningrum, Qorizha Islamiah, Arie Mardika Nurma Agustin, Solehati Nofitasari, & Yuli Winiari Wahyuningtyas. (2026). “State Protection Behind Bars: Analysis of State Responsibility in Protecting the Rights of Torture Victims from a Human Rights Perspective (Case Study of Taufik Hidayat).” Jurnal Wetgeving, 1(2), 234–256. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56013/wetgeving.v1i2.6290

5. Tisyara, Made Kirana Amaradellia, & Tience Debora Valentina. (2024). “Violence in Dating Experienced by Women: A Literature Review.” Psikobuletin: Scientific Bulletin of Psychology, 5(1), 66. DOI: https://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/Psikobuletin/article/view/25696

News and Online Sources

1. Saputra, Yuli. “Taufik Hidayat, the Man Who ‘Held Captive and Abused’ His Girlfriend for Three Years Charged with Multiple Articles — What Is the Chronology?” BBC News Indonesia, 23 June 2026, updated 26 June 2026.

2. Pusiknas Bareskrim Polri. “Three Years in Captivity: An Alarm of Violence from Someone Closest.” 30 June 2026.

3. Mahendra, Rizky Adha. “‘Taufik Hidayat’ Cikarang, Girlfriend Abuser Becomes a Suspect, Faces 5 Years in Prison.” detikNews, 21 July 2026.

4. Sekolapedia. “Taufik Hidayat's Crime Veil Uncovered: From Sadistic Captivity, Motorcycle Theft, to Escape Assisted by Debt Collector Colleagues.” 2 July 2026.

5. Putama, Rino. “The Taufik Hidayat Case: Uncovering the Birth of a ‘Monster’ Due to Corrupt Public Morality.” The Conversation Indonesia, 10 July 2026.

6. Anjani, Nabila Fara. “Bandung Woman Captivity Case, UMY Professor Emphasizes Victim Recovery Rights.” Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, 25 June 2026.

7. Nugraha, Muhammad Raihan. “Criminal Sanctions for Captor and Abuser of Girlfriend.” Klinik Hukumonline, 24 June 2026.

8. CNA Indonesia. “Taufik Hidayat Charged with Three Articles, Faces Up to 36 Years in Prison.” 7 July 2026.

Statutory Regulations

1. Republic of Indonesia. Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia of 2023 Number 1, Supplement to the State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6842.

2. Republic of Indonesia. Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes. State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia of 2022 Number 120, Supplement to the State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6792.