Arie Faces Ethics Hearing at UNY After Release from Prison, Family Responds

UNY activist Perdana Arie Putra Veriasa must undergo an ethics hearing at the campus after being released from prison. Regarding this, the family will follow the procedures in place at the campus.

“We will follow the procedures and await the decision from UNY,” said Thomas Oni Veriasa, who is Perdana Arie’s father, when contacted by reporters on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

It is known that Arie was a defendant in the case of burning police tents during an action at the Yogyakarta Regional Police in August last year. Arie was sentenced to 5 months and 3 days, with the time already served in detention being deducted. As a result, he was able to be released shortly after the verdict was handed down.

Even though he has been released from prison, Arie cannot immediately resume his studies. The campus has procedures for students who are involved in criminal cases and have been convicted.

The family hopes that the decision of this ethics hearing can be issued soon. So that the family and Arie can prepare the next steps while communicating with the dean’s office.

“Hopefully, it can be done quickly so that we can prepare the next steps. We will communicate with the dean’s office for updates and follow-up regarding Arie’s studies,” he said.

For the time being, Arie has not yet taken the option of taking a leave of absence from campus. However, if the ethics hearing requires a long process, the family will consider the leave of absence option.

“For now, there is no decision on a leave of absence, but if a leave of absence is needed due to a long process, it will be considered,” he concluded.

The Legal Affairs Expert Staff of UNY, Anang Priyanto, said that the History student at UNY still has to undergo an ethics hearing at the faculty. Regarding the implementation of the hearing, it will be carried out as soon as possible.

“The examination of violations of the code of ethics is the responsibility of the faculty. It will be carried out as soon as possible because an Ethics Commission must be formed first,” said Anang when contacted by reporters on Thursday (February 26).

Anang explained that the ethics hearing is an internal campus regulation. He ensured that it is applied to every UNY student who is involved in legal matters and has been convicted.

“This is an internal regulation, all students are treated equally, there is no discrimination because there is a court decision,” he said.

Regarding the sanctions that will be imposed, everything depends on the ethics examination that is carried out. The sanctions range from light to severe.

“Regarding sanctions, it can be light, moderate, and severe. If it is light, it is in the form of a written warning, if it is moderate, it is in the form of suspension and guidance, if it is severe, it can be expelled. It all depends on the violation,” he said.

However, the final decision on the imposition of sanctions is given by the leadership.

“But all matters of sanctions, the decision is with the leadership with its discretion,” he concluded.

Previously, the panel of judges at the Sleman District Court handed down a sentence of 5 months and 3 days to the defendant Perdana Arie Putra Veriasa in the case of burning facilities at the Yogyakarta Regional Police during an action in August last year. This sentence is exactly the same as the period of arrest and detention that he has served, so he can immediately be released.

The reading of the verdict against the defendant Perdana Arie was carried out on Monday (February 23) at the Sleman District Court. Dozens of people were seen crowding the courtroom to provide support to Perdana Arie.

In its consideration, the chairman of the panel of judges, Ari Prabawa, stated that the actions of Perdana Arie met all the elements in Article 308 paragraph 1 of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code as in the first alternative indictment of the public prosecutor. This sentence is lower than the prosecutor’s demand, which demanded Arie a prison sentence of 1 year.

“Handing down a sentence to the defendant by virtue of a prison sentence of 5 months and 3 days,” said Ari Prabawa while reading the verdict at the Sleman District Court, Monday (February 23).

The judge then stipulated that the period of arrest and detention that the defendant had served was deducted in full from the sentence imposed.

“Ordering the public prosecutor to release the defendant from detention immediately after this decision is read,” he said.

(apl/ahr)