BALI — The case of a British child allegedly taken unlawfully from his legal guardian in Bali has raised serious concerns for Kathryn Rosalie Joy Dench, the child’s mother and a British citizen.
The safety and wellbeing of SEB, a 9-year-old British citizen, are under grave threat following his unlawful removal from his mother’s lawful custody in Bali. Despite a legally binding Indonesian civil court decision granting full custody to the mother, the child was taken without her knowledge or consent—a suspected criminal offense under Indonesian law.
Speaking at a press conference held in Bali on Saturday, 19 July 2025, Kathryn—accompanied by her legal advisors from Malekat Hukum—called for urgent intervention. Her legal team includes Bening Dian Pertiwi, I Gusti Ngurah Bayu Pradana, Anna Fransiska Santoso, and I Gusti Agung Bagus Oka Wijana Narendra.
During the press conference, lawyer Bening Dian Pertiwi recounted the events of Monday, 21 April 2025, at approximately 6:11 PM WITA, when SEB was outside his home in Serangan, South Denpasar, picking up a food delivery. At that moment, two men—one foreigner with white skin and one Indonesian citizen—approached the boy and forcibly took him away. A nearby café owner witnessed the incident and confirmed that SEB screamed and resisted, but was nonetheless forced into a car and driven away. CCTV footage later revealed that the perpetrators’ vehicle had been waiting in the area since 4:30 PM, suggesting a premeditated act.
Upon hearing her son’s screams, Kathryn rushed outside but was unable to prevent the abduction. That same evening, she filed a formal police report under Article 330 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP), documented as Police Report No. LP/B/299/IV/2025/SPKT/Polresta Denpasar/Polda Bali.
Six hours after the incident, SEB’s biological father—BJWB, a British national and Kathryn’s former partner—emailed Kathryn admitting he had taken the child. This information was promptly passed on to the authorities. Subsequent investigation indicated that the child had been transported from Bali to Tangerang on the same day. However, his exact whereabouts remain unknown to this day.
Despite the seriousness of the case and the availability of both eyewitnesses and CCTV evidence, the investigation by Denpasar Police has progressed sluggishly. The delay in securing the child’s safety and the slow pace of criminal proceedings risk further harm to SEB and undermine the enforcement of Indonesian custody rulings. As of now, there has been no confirmation as to whether the driver who assisted the suspected perpetrator has been summoned or questioned by the police.
Kathryn’s legal team urged law enforcement to treat this case with the urgency and seriousness it warrants and to prioritize the best interests of the child, as mandated by law.
Kathryn holds full and final legal custody of SEB based on a court ruling upheld through to the level of judicial review (Peninjauan Kembali/PK). During the trial process, BJWB was given opportunities to access the child but never attended. He also failed to provide any financial support or seek official visitation through legal channels.
Rather than following lawful legal procedures, BJWB chose unilateral and unlawful action that prima facie constitutes child abduction under Indonesian law—an egregious offense and a blatant disregard for Indonesian court authority. A 2024 ruling by the Indonesian Constitutional Court made it clear that Article 330 of the Criminal Code applies to anyone, including biological parents, who unlawfully remove a child from their legal guardian. The Court emphasized that law enforcement must “not hesitate to act” in such cases. The maximum penalty for this offense is nine years in prison.
Since the suspected abduction, Kathryn has been allowed only six video calls with her son—each highly restricted in duration and content. SEB has appeared visibly distressed during these calls, with clear signs of psychological pressure. He was not allowed to speak freely, including about his life in Bali or even his beloved pet dog still living there. As of 4 July 2025, an email from the alleged perpetrator stated that all further communication between mother and son was prohibited.
Kathryn’s legal team has filed an official complaint with the Indonesian Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA). However, no concrete action has been taken to date. The Ministry has so far only proposed parental mediation, a measure that entirely ignores the core issue. This is not a simple custody dispute—it is an urgent matter of child protection and criminal law enforcement.
A separate report has also been submitted to the Bali Regional Police regarding suspected child neglect. Since 22 April 2025, SEB has not received any formal education, even though legal responsibility for his education lies with his mother, the legal custodian. Communication between SEB and his mother has also been tightly controlled by BJWB. During the few allowed video calls, the child appeared unable to speak freely, indicating a concerning pattern of manipulated communication that could pose serious risks to SEB’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.
International studies show that up to 73% of children abducted by a parent suffer severe psychological trauma, especially when separated long-term from their primary caregiver. The principle of the child’s best interests, enshrined in both national and international child protection standards, must remain the guiding compass in such cases.
This case cannot be dismissed as a mere parental custody dispute. It is a clear and serious case of alleged child abduction—carried out in violation of a lawful Indonesian court decision and involving the illegal cross-provincial relocation of a child. The lack of assertive and timely action by the authorities risks setting a dangerous precedent where custody rulings can be flouted without consequence. More importantly, the current situation directly endangers the physical safety, psychological condition, and educational future of a vulnerable child.
We urgently call on the Government of the Republic of Indonesia—particularly KemenPPPA, law enforcement authorities, and relevant child protection bodies—to treat this case with the gravity it deserves. Failure to take firm action not only endangers this child but also undermines the credibility of Indonesia’s legal system and its commitment to protecting children from all forms of violence and neglect.
We also call on media, child protection organizations, and human rights bodies—both domestic and international—to monitor this case closely and support all efforts to uphold justice and the fundamental rights of the child.***
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