A 29-year-old woman was discovered in a hospital in Bandung, West Java, on 10 June with catastrophic injuries after what her family and police describe as three years of captivity and torture by her partner. The victim, identified by the initials YTR, was found at Hasan Sadikin Hospital with both eyes blinded, her upper lip severed, multiple teeth knocked out, deep lacerations to her legs, and burns across her body consistent with cigarette stubs, according to medical sources and police statements. Her head wounds were so severe that maggots were later found in the tissue, relatives told Indonesian media.

West Java police have named the suspect as Taufik Hidayat, 30, the victim’s boyfriend, who remains at large. Authorities say he rented a room in Cileunyi subdistrict where he allegedly locked the woman inside from the outside when he left. The case came to light after an anonymous message alerted the family that YTR was in the emergency department; she had been missing since 2023. Police confirmed that formal questioning of the victim has not yet been possible due to her limited ability to communicate, though she has begun speaking to relatives and, according to her sister-in-law, initially told doctors she had fallen before disclosing the alleged abuse.

Unconfirmed reports have surfaced of other women claiming to have been abused by the same man, including one who said she was assaulted in a lodging in Garut several years ago. A legal team from high-profile lawyer Hotman Paris, now providing pro bono assistance to the family, said it had received preliminary information about a possible victim from Garut but no official police report had yet been filed. Meanwhile, a social media account believed to belong to the suspect remained active, with users noting their comments were being deleted, even as police pursued him across multiple locations.

Public and official reaction has been swift. The governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, visited the hospital and pledged to cover all medical costs after the national health insurer declined to pay because the injuries resulted from a crime. National lawmakers and the minister for women’s empowerment have urged police to arrest the suspect and apply multiple charges, including grievous bodily harm and deprivation of liberty. The investigation is ongoing, and police say they have formed a joint team to track the fugitive, who has so far evaded capture.