Caught in Sting Operation, Unsoed Rector Absent from KPK Event
Rector of Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) Akhmad Sodiq was absent from the Forum for Strengthening Integrity in the State Higher Education Ecosystem (PIEPTN) because he was caught in a sting operation (OTT) over alleged extortion in new student admissions or gratification.
The event was organised by the KPK’s Education Network Directorate (JARDIK) together with the Indonesian State University Rectors Council (MRPTNI) at the KPK ACLC Building and Hotel Aryaduta, Jakarta, on 19–20 August 2026.
“The person concerned did not attend the event,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when confirmed via written message on Saturday (22/8).
Budi Prasetyo explained that Unsoed was in fact not a participant in the forum, but rather a target for the implementation of integrity in higher education. Moreover, the KPK had already held anti-corruption outreach at Unsoed.
“Unsoed remains a target for implementing strengthened integrity in the campus ecosystem,” said Budi.
“With this incident, the commitment and efforts to improve governance of the campus ecosystem must be taken more seriously. Because when we talk about the campus ecosystem, we will also talk about how values and culture are applied within it,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK Achmad Taufik Husein said the sting operation related to alleged extortion or gratification was carried out in Purwokerto and Jakarta and had arrested 14 people.
Two people were confirmed arrested in Jakarta, one of whom was the Unsoed Rector, who was immediately taken for intensive questioning at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building.
Meanwhile, 12 people were arrested in Purwokerto. They underwent initial examination at Banyumas Police Headquarters. Subsequently, seven other people were taken to Jakarta for further questioning.
In the covert operation, the KPK found and seized evidence in the form of cash amounting to approximately Rp665 million and a bank account balance of Rp99 million.
“Now, it so happens that ASO [Akhmad Sodiq] as Rector did have an event in Jakarta. But was there a transaction? At that time, no team found facts that the person concerned directly transacted,” said Taufik at a press conference at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building, Jakarta, on Friday (21/8) evening.
“But indeed, because this was a series of investigative events, a number of pieces of evidence were found that then fulfilled the elements of a caught-in-the-act incident,” he explained.
The KPK has named a total of six suspects in the case of alleged extortion related to new student admissions at Unsoed or acceptance of gratification.
The suspects are Unsoed Rector Akhmad Sodiq; Unsoed Vice Rector III Norman Arie Prayoga; Unsoed Head of Academic Affairs Eko Sumanto; and three private individuals named Dian Mulia Wardhana, Adhi Wiharto, and Mulyono.
This determination follows up on the sting operation in Purwokerto and Jakarta as well as intensive examinations conducted by the KPK since Thursday (20/8).
The KPK has detained the suspects for the first 20 days from 21 August to 9 September 2026. The detention was carried out at the State Detention Centre branch of the KPK’s Merah Putih Building.