November 26, 2025
JAKARTA – The case of six-year-old AKN, who disappeared in March from Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta, has seen a significant development after eight months of investigation. AKN’s stepfather, Alex Iskandar, was arrested last week but reportedly died by suicide in police custody.
The remains of AKN were discovered as skeletal remains along the Cilalay River in Tenjo, Bogor Regency, West Java, approximately 40 kilometers from where he was last seen. His body was found on Sunday, alongside clothing believed to be his, following the deployment of sniffer dogs.
The boy’s disappearance initially went unaddressed until it gained national attention, partly due to a concurrent case involving a four-year-old girl abducted in Makassar. This attention prompted a renewed focus on AKN’s case. Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Budi Hermanto stated that further investigation involving over 20 witnesses led to Iskandar being named a suspect in AKN’s abduction and death, which was reportedly motivated by personal grievances against AKN’s mother.
The government has called for improvements in the police’s response to child abduction cases. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Saan Mustopa emphasized the need for faster action from law enforcement in matters concerning child safety.
According to the National Police’s records, there have been 50 reported abductions involving minors in Indonesia this year, nearly double that of 2022.