{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1568310,
        "msgid": "lpdp-sanctions-44-scholarship-recipients-orders-8-to-repay-funds-1771921783",
        "date": "2026-02-24 10:48:09",
        "title": "LPDP sanctions 44 scholarship recipients, orders 8 to repay funds",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_EN",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "Indonesia's LPDP scholarship organisation has sanctioned 44 recipients for regulatory violations, with 8 ordered to immediately repay their scholarship funds and 36 others under investigation, based on over 600 identified potential cases. The enforcement action follows public outcry over controversial cases, most notably a recipient who faced backlash for comments questioning Indonesian citizenship, underscoring accountability concerns for publicly funded scholarships.",
        "content": "<p>Of these, eight have been sanctioned and are required to return their\nscholarship funds, while 36 others are still under investigation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have conducted research and anticipate that there may be more\nthan 600 awardees. Of those, sanctions have been determined, including\nthe return of eight, and the remaining 36 are being processed,\u201d the\nPresident Director of LPDP, Sudarto, said in a press conference on\nMonday (February 23).<\/p>\n<p>The data was obtained based on access to immigration crossing data\nfrom the Directorate General of Immigration, public reports, and social\nmedia searches of awardees, he continued.<\/p>\n<p>Sudarto emphasized that not all reports automatically lead to\nviolations. He noted that some scholarship beneficiaries remain in their\ninternship phase or are developing businesses abroad for two years, in\nline with the program\u2019s regulations.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, some have also completed their service period or\nreceived official assignments from their institutions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will process every case objectively and proportionally. We remain\ncommitted to upholding public trust, given that these are public funds\nthat must be returned and maximized for Indonesia\u2019s benefit,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding sanctions, Sudarto stated that awardees violating LPDP\u2019s\nregulations could be subject to the return of their scholarship funds\nand interest, as well as being barred from participating in future LPDP\nprograms.<\/p>\n<p>These provisions are stipulated in the agreement signed by\nscholarship recipients.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the case of an LPDP alumnus with the initials DS, which\nwent viral on social media, Sudarto expressed his regret.<\/p>\n<p>DS went viral due to her controversial commentary stating that she\nwanted her children to be foreign nationals, saying it was enough for\nher alone to remain an Indonesian citizen.<\/p>\n<p>The remark drew widespread online criticism as insensitive toward\nIndonesian citizenship, particularly since she was a recipient of a\npublicly funded state scholarship.<\/p>\n<p>On the same occasion, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa\ninformed that DS\u2019 husband has expressed his willingness to return the\nscholarship funds he received, including the interest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe LPDP has spoken with the husband in question. And he seems to\nhave agreed to return the LPDP money. So, that includes the interest. If\nI put the LPDP money in the bank, it would earn interest, and it would\nbe treated fairly,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n<p>Related news: RI Govt has granted fellowship to 867 medical\nspecialists per 2025<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Prabowo orders corruption recovered funds used for\nscholarships<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Prabowo to prioritize scholarships for doctors to\ntackle shortage<\/p>\n<p>Translator: Bayu Saputra, Resinta Sulistiyandari<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lpdp-sanctions-44-scholarship-recipients-orders-8-to-repay-funds-1771921783",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}