BRIN: Dimas Fajar Prasetyo Not Involved in Alleged Research Fraud Case
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has stated that Dimas Fajar Prasetyo, a researcher at BRIN’s Hydrodynamics Technology Research Centre, was not involved in the alleged research fraud presented at the International Society of Pneumonia and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) 2026 conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 17-21 May 2026.
In a written statement released by BRIN, Dimas Fajar clarified that the name appearing in several disputed publications was not his. ‘Regarding recent reports about publications listing names and affiliations similar to my identity, I hereby clarify and confirm that these are not me and have no relation to me in any form,’ he said on Saturday, 30 May 2026.
Dimas stated he had never created, been involved in, attended, known about, or collaborated with any parties involved in the suspected fraudulent research. He noted that since the start of his research career, his expertise has been in Offshore and Marine Systems Engineering.
According to him, his academic and educational background has consistently been in this field. Therefore, Dimas said that the use of his name in research outside his area of expertise can be confirmed as not his.
‘If names and affiliations resembling mine are used in research of which I am completely unaware, this should be suspected as misuse,’ Dimas said.
Dimas considers the unauthorised use of someone’s name in academic work to be irresponsible and damaging to both the individual and their institution. He also stated that some of his social media accounts have been temporarily deactivated to prevent misuse by irresponsible parties.
Previously, several Indonesian nationals were suspected of research fraud at an international pneumonia conference in Denmark. The allegation was first reported by epidemiologist Wa Ode Dwi Daningrat, who attended the scientific conference representing the Oxford University team.
Dwi recounted catching a woman named Prihantini, who claimed to be Dimas Fajar Prasetyo—one of the listed authors in the research—during an oral presentation on the second day of the poster spotlight session.
Dwi observed Prihantini replacing her name card, which read ‘Riana Dwi Kurniawati’, with one bearing ‘Dimas Fajar Prasetyo’ just before stepping onto the podium. ‘It happened right in front of me, with no barrier. Perhaps she was in a rush and not paying attention to those around her,’ Dwi said during a video call on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
After the presentation, Dwi asked Prihantini to explain the research allegedly written by five people—Prihantini as lead author, Dimas Fajar Prasetyo, Aminatus Sa’adah, Riana Dwi Kurniati, and Rivaldy Fajar as team leader. Dwi found Prihantini unable to explain the abstract or poster of their study on the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PVC).
After being pressed by Dwi, Prihantini admitted she was not Dimas or Riana as previously claimed to the international scientists at the conference. Additionally, the abstract and poster were suspected of containing fabricated data and were AI-generated, as it was impossible to produce such perfect research results unintentionally.
Dwi, alongside Ida Bagus Mandhara Brasika, a lecturer at Udayana University’s Faculty of Marine and Fisheries pursuing a Climate Mathematics doctoral degree at the University of Exeter, reported the allegations to the ISPPD 2026 committee on 19 May 2026. Subsequently, the committee revoked the travel grant for Prihantini’s group on 21 May 2026.