Indonesian lawmakers questioned legal representatives Monday regarding inconsistencies surrounding the death of a young boy allegedly abused by his stepmother in Sukabumi. The case has drawn attention to potential neglect and a delayed response from the child’s father.
“We received power of attorney on February 20,” said Mira Widyawati, the attorney representing the boy’s mother, Lisnawati, during a hearing with the DPR RI’s Commission III. “At that time, Ms. Lisnawati explained that she is the mother of Nizam Syafei, whose death is filled with irregularities.”
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Widyawati detailed several irregularities, including bruises and burn marks on the boy’s body. She similarly revealed conversations between Lisnawati and her ex-husband, identified only as AS, around the time of the incident.
“The irregularities include blunt force trauma and burns on the exterior of the body,” Widyawati stated. “When the incident occurred, Ms. Lisnawati was called and texted by her ex-husband, Mr. AS, to come to the hospital to see her son, who was sick but not yet deceased.”
According to the attorney, prior to Nizam Syafei’s death on February 18, 2026, his father had even discussed funeral arrangements with Lisnawati, and reportedly apologized if his son’s life would be short.
“On February 15, they exchanged messages. The content of the messages indicated that the son was sick, in Sundanese,” Widyawati explained.
“Then, our client asked, ‘Has he been taken to the doctor?’ and the response was ‘Not yet.’ When asked why, the reply was ‘There’s no time.’ Following that, another WhatsApp message said, ‘I apologize if my son doesn’t live long.’ He also apologized and mentioned potentially burying him in the family plot near his grandfather’s grave,” she added.
Habiburokhman, Chairman of Commission III DPR, questioned the father’s comments regarding the funeral. The legal counsel suggested that Nizam Syafei was neglected by his father and stepmother and not taken to a hospital.
“He said that even as the boy was still at home?” Habiburokhman asked.
“Still at home, already critical. We have obtained videos of him at home in critical condition. We have photo and video evidence, leading us to analyze that this was intentional neglect or abandonment, preventing him from being taken to the hospital,” Widyawati responded.
The mother was reportedly only notified of her son’s death later, with the father claiming he had died of pneumonia.
Widyawati stated that for the past four years, the boy’s mother had difficulty communicating with her son. She saw her son’s body after he had been shrouded in a funeral cloth, unable to view his face. The attorney also pointed to the father’s absence from the funeral as another irregularity.
“She didn’t meet her son again while he was alive, and tragically, she saw him as a corpse, covered in a shroud, unable to see his face,” Widyawati said.
“For the last four years, they hadn’t met. When they finally met, it was his funeral. The father was not present. We don’t know where he was. That’s another irregularity we’ve received,” she concluded.
(dwr/gbr)
The case underscores concerns about child welfare and the potential for delayed medical care in instances of suspected abuse.
