Thekabarnews.com—The West Java Regional Police (Polda Jabar) have arrested a 30-year-old man, Taufik Hidayat, the main suspect in an alleged prolonged confinement and severe abuse of his partner, identified by the initials YTR, 29.

Police arrested the suspect on the night of June 23 after investigators uncovered allegations that he had subjected the victim to years of violence while confining her in a boarding house in the Cileunyi area of Bandung Regency.

West Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Rudi Setiawan said investigators tracked the suspect by following financial transactions that yielded important clues in the hunt.

Police started tracking the suspect’s movements early Tuesday after observing transaction activity in Majalaya, Bandung Regency. Officers tracked the trail throughout the day before narrowing in on his whereabouts inside a residential complex in the regency.

Authorities arrested the suspect around 6:30 p.m. local time. Police said he offered no resistance to arrest and cooperated with officers throughout the operation.

“We were already in Majalaya this morning, and we watched his movements. He did a few transactions, and those transactions gave us some important clues,” Rudi said to reporters, as quoted in Tribunnews Jabar.

Investigators said the suspect had traveled to various places, even outside West Java, in an effort to evade detection.

Police suspect he had left for Tangerang, hoping to go unnoticed, before returning. However, investigators said he returned to Bandung and sought refuge in Bandung Regency, at a relative’s residence.

The suspect was becoming increasingly anxious while on the run, Rudi said.

“He was fearful, suspicious of everyone around him, and didn’t know where to go. Finally, he returned to Majalaya, and officers arrested him,” said Rudi.

During preliminary questioning, investigators also looked at factors that may have contributed to the alleged violence.

Police said the suspect tested negative for narcotics. However, investigators said he admitted consuming alcoholic beverages almost every day, including a locally sold black wine product.

The suspect told investigators he and the victim argued frequently and his drinking often escalated the arguments, investigators say.

Rudi said he was drinking alcohol every day, according to his statement, and the alleged assaults took place during those arguments.

West Java Police plan to involve psychiatric experts in the ongoing investigation due to the seriousness of the allegations.

The victim sustained serious injuries, authorities said, and medical examinations revealed that. The victim suffered serious facial injuries, including the loss of several front teeth, and severe damage to her lips, police said.

Medical findings also showed permanent loss of vision in both eyes, investigators said.

“The victim was blinded in both the eyes. She also lost six upper front teeth and suffered severe injuries to her lips,” West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Hendra Rochmawan said.

Investigators said the victim formerly worked in the food industry and that the suspect allegedly deprived her of her freedom during the period under investigation.

Police have formally detained Taufik Hidayat and placed him in monitored detention at West Java Police Headquarters. The investigation is still going on, and the officers of the Women and Children’s Protection (PPA) units are still intensively questioning.

The authorities said they were still investigating the case. Under Indonesian law, every suspect is presumed innocent until the court has issued a final and binding conviction.

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