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Police Still Investigating Jakarta Guru Sex Case
Zaky Pawas | March 02, 2010

Tara Pradipta Laksmi arriving at the Jakarta Police’s Women and Children Center to provide evidence to support her allegations that she was sexually harassed by Anand Krishna, her spiritual guru. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal) Tara Pradipta Laksmi arriving at the Jakarta Police’s Women and Children Center to provide evidence to support her allegations that she was sexually harassed by Anand Krishna, her spiritual guru. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)
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The Jakarta Police are still collecting evidence over a sexual abuse complaint filed by 19-year-old Tara Pradiptha Laksmi, who last month accused spiritual leader Anand Krishna, 54, of abusing her while she was under hypnosis. Police have so far interrogated six witnesses in the case.

“We are still collecting evidence. What we have right now ... we have to determine whether or not it can be used as evidence and whether there is a relation between the evidence and the accusations,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said on Monday. He added that police had yet to summon Anand for questioning.

Fredi Damanik , Tara’s lawyer, said a number of gifts given to her by Anand demonstrated the intimacy in their relationship. The gifts included five bracelets and a statue. The gifts were given to her on Valentine’s Day, he said.

Other evidence Fredi handed over to police included a photo of Tara with Anand and copies of the conversation she had with the spiritual leader on social networking Web site Facebook.

Meanwhile, Anand’s legal counsel, Darwin Aritonang, said his team was still trying to resolve the problem in an informal way.

“We have repeatedly asked for peace but they did not respond. We want to get it over with. We do not want to make fuss,” said Darwin. Anand, he said, had no intention to hit back by filing a police report over defamation or any other matter.

“No [counter reports]. We do not want to make a fuss,” he said.

Darwin claimed that Tara was exploited by certain parties in this case. “We see this only as sensationalism. We fear there is a party who used Tara in this case,” Darwin explained.

He said it was Tara who came to Anand to ask for help with Tara’s family problems.

Previously, Anand told the Jakarta Globe that all the allegations were false. “I categorically deny all those allegations,” Anand said. “I have never dealt with, or provided consultations on meditation or any other services, on a one-on-one basis for at least five to six years.”

“I have always said love is the solution. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding here ... There are people who do not like me.”