Indonesian child star Tegar Septian, 13, reports Singaporean manager for sexual abuse

Popular Indonesian child star Tegar Septian has filed a police report alleging that he was sexually abused by his Singaporean manager, Arif Dollah.

Various Indonesian media reported that the 13-year-old, known to fans as Tegar, announced that he had sought assistance from the country's National Commission for Child Protection in a press conference on Wednesday.

Arist Merdeka Sirait, chairman of the Commission, confirmed the news to The Straits Times: "We have filed a report to police on Thursday. Police will soon arrange a medical check on the victim and use the medical report as preliminary evidence to press charges against Arif Dollah. "He is facing a maximum of 15 years and a minimum of five years in jail if found guilty."

The abuse apparently occurred between November 2014 and January this year. Tegar alleged that Arif had requested him to sleep in his underwear, kiss him and take showers together.

Tegar was plucked from obscurity after he was spotted busking at a food stall in Subang, West Java. A YouTube video of his hit song, Aku Yang Dulu Bukan Yang Sekarang, has been viewed more than 11 million times.

mklee@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

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