Surabaya Police Investigate 'Doll Content' Sexual Harassment Modus Operandi

The Surabaya Police are investigating allegations of sexual harassment disguised as a 'doll content' video creation scheme targeting women in the Jalan Tunjungan area of Surabaya. The case went viral on social media after one of the victims, identified by the initial AS, shared her unpleasant experience. According to AS, the incident involving her and her friend occurred around midnight on August 5, 2026. As they were walking towards the parking area in the Jalan Tunjungan vicinity, they were approached by two men who invited them to participate in a short video content. "They said, 'Hello sister, do you want to be in the content? It's just a 20-second video, at most. The content is with a doll, we'll high-five and then I'll give you the doll,'" AS recounted the perpetrators' modus operandi on Tuesday (22/9). Although AS initially refused, her friend felt awkward and eventually agreed. AS, who tried to dissuade her friend, was also pulled into the camera frame. AS further detailed the peculiar instructions given by the group of men during the filming. They were given a doll and instructed to hold its tail. It was during this time that the alleged harassment took place. "We were told to high-five, to give the doll, to look at the doll's tail, to hold the tail, and to laugh and throw it at each other," she explained. Feeling uncomfortable, AS shared her experience on the social media platform Threads. It turned out that many other victims also claimed to have been treated the same way. Responding to the public outcry, Head of the Women and Children Protection Unit of the Surabaya Police Criminal Investigation Department, Police Commissioner Melatisari, confirmed that the police are investigating the case. "We will check again," Melatisari stated. Melatisari also urged residents to be more cautious in public spaces and not to hesitate to report to officers if they witness anything suspicious. "Take better care of yourselves and your surroundings, and increase vigilance against any form of behavior that leads to violence or sexual harassment. Report it if you become aware of such incidents," she advised. Amidst the ongoing police investigation, the content creator behind the video eventually emerged. The owner of the TikTok and YouTube account @takimofficial08 sent a direct message of apology to AS. "I just want to convey my deepest apologies to the sister who I once invited to participate in the doll content. With full awareness and sincerity, I truly want to apologize to all parties, and especially to you, sister, who felt disturbed, harmed, and even harassed," the creator wrote in a message to AS. The account owner claimed they had no intention of demeaning anyone while creating the content. They also pledged to take this as a warning and not to produce videos with similar themes in the future. "I am also committed to not repeating this type of content concept in the future. I will make this incident a learning experience so that I can create content in a better way going forward," they stated. "Once again, I consciously and sincerely apologize to you, sister, and to everyone else I cannot mention one by one. I truly appreciate your help and understanding. Once again, I sincerely apologize for what happened," Although AS has forgiven the creator personally, she has chosen not to remove her viral post as a form of oversight and warning to other women. "Personally, I have forgiven the perpetrator. However, I cannot delete the previous post yet because I want to first ensure that he is no longer creating such content on Jalan Tunjungan," she said. Source: CNN Indonesia