West Java woman left blind after alleged years-long captivity and abuse

A 29-year-old woman from Indonesia's West Java province is receiving intensive medical treatment after allegedly being held captive and subjected to years of abuse by her boyfriend, leaving her permanently blind and severely injured.

The victim, Yuvita Tri Rezeki, was reunited with her family on 10 June after they received a message informing them that she had been admitted to Dr Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung. Relatives had been unable to maintain regular contact with her for approximately three years and initially believed she had been involved in an accident.

When family members arrived at the hospital, they were shocked by her condition.

According to her younger brother, Syahrul Ulum, doctors noted that many of her injuries appeared to be old wounds rather than the result of a recent incident. He also said the man who brought Yuvita to the hospital was her boyfriend, identified as TH, who has since become the subject of a police manhunt.

Yuvita remains under intensive treatment and has undergone surgery to clean severe infections and wounds. Although she has begun communicating again, her speech remains impaired due to extensive injuries to her face.

The family alleges that Yuvita endured years of violence while being held captive by TH.

According to relatives, the pair met in 2023 at a music concert in Bandung and subsequently began a relationship. TH later visited Yuvita's family home in Rancaekek, where family members said he appeared polite and did not raise any suspicions.

Shortly afterwards, however, Yuvita suddenly lost contact with her relatives.

Family members said that while they occasionally managed to speak with her by telephone, the conversations were infrequent and unusual. They claimed she often sounded distressed, spoke harshly and no longer behaved like herself.

As concern grew, the family posted missing-person notices on social media. The posts were later removed after Yuvita allegedly contacted them and demanded that they be taken down.

Relatives now believe she was held captive for about three years and moved between rented rooms in the Cileunyi area of Bandung Regency. They allege she was repeatedly relocated and prevented from possessing a mobile phone.

According to the family, Yuvita later told her father that she had been subjected to repeated assaults using both blunt and sharp weapons.

Her brother said she reported being struck in the head with a helmet and attacked with a machete. Family members also alleged that she suffered cigarette burns and other injuries over an extended period.

The abuse left devastating physical consequences.

Both of Yuvita's eyes became severely infected, resulting in permanent blindness. She also sustained serious injuries to her face, including damage to her upper lip, and suffered wounds to her legs that relatives said were caused by machete attacks.

In addition to the physical abuse, the family alleges that valuables belonging to Yuvita were taken during the period of captivity, causing losses estimated at Rp52 million (approximately US$3,170).

The case was formally reported to the West Java Regional Police on 12 June.

Police are investigating the matter as alleged aggravated assault under Indonesia's Criminal Code and have named Taufik Hidayat, 30, as the primary suspect.

West Java Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan said investigators have been tracking the suspect through digital mapping and have attempted to arrest him. However, he reportedly escaped shortly before officers were able to carry out a raid.

"We have been pursuing the suspect for several days. Based on our mapping, he frequently moves from place to place. Not long ago we were close to raiding his location, but he managed to escape," Hendra told reporters.

Authorities say the search for the suspect is continuing.

Meanwhile, Yuvita's family has urged police to apprehend the suspect as quickly as possible and fully investigate the case. They have also expressed fears that there could be other victims.

"We want this case thoroughly investigated until the perpetrator is found," Syahrul said. "We are afraid there could be more victims."