DPR Member Urges Police to Transparently Investigate Alleged Payment to UBK Students
A member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Abdullah, has urged the National Police (Polri) to investigate the controversy surrounding an alleged payment of Rp20 million by a police officer to a student from Bung Karno University (UBK) during a recent demonstration in Jakarta. He stressed that the investigation must be conducted transparently and accountably.
According to Abdullah, allowing narratives of alleged police involvement in the case to go unaddressed could potentially generate various speculations and negative perceptions among the public. He stated that the investigation is necessary to prevent the spread of speculation and negative perceptions regarding the neutrality of law enforcement officers.
“Polri must conduct an investigation to prove whether the statement is true or false. This investigation is important to maintain accountability and public trust in the Polri institution,” Abdullah said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He expressed confidence that the police institution possesses internal oversight mechanisms capable of probing the allegation professionally and transparently. Therefore, he expects that any emerging information can be followed up objectively based on existing facts and evidence.
“This must be brought to light. If there truly was intervention, it means the individual abused their authority and must be sanctioned,” Abdullah said.
He noted that Commission III of the DPR RI is prepared to assist in uncovering the case through the oversight function held by the House. One possible option is to request explanations from relevant parties, including representatives of the UBK Faculty of Law Student Executive Board (BEM FH UBK) and the police, if necessary, to obtain a complete picture of the incident.
“This is in line with the DPR’s oversight function and also serves to maintain public trust in students, Polri, and the DPR as democratic institutions,” he stated.
Previously, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka received student representatives who were staging protests at several points in Jakarta and held a dialogue with them at the Vice Presidential Palace on Monday (22/6). Subsequently, the action coordinator and Chair of the BEM FH UBK, M. Abdi Maludin, admitted to receiving Rp20 million after the meeting and issued a public apology.