Education expert urges evaluation of education system after KPK sting operation at Unsoed
Education observer Indra Charismadji has urged an evaluation of the education system following the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) sting operation at Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed).
“Corruption cases in state universities are not the first to occur, such as at Lampung University and several others I cannot recall. This means what is needed is a system improvement,” Indra said in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Indra, the recurrence of corruption cases within state universities should serve as a momentum to improve the education system so that education can once again be positioned as a fundamental right.
“But fixing the system to restore education as a fundamental right is urgent,” he said.
However, Indra asked the public not to rush to conclusions regarding the case involving the Unsoed rector. He said the legal process must proceed while upholding the presumption of innocence.
“Before going further, we need certainty first whether this is political or purely criminal. The presumption of innocence must be respected and placed as it should be. I do not want to act as a judge in a situation like this,” Indra said.
“Hopefully the case is truly purely criminal, with no political elements,” he added.
Previously, the KPK on Friday (21/8) named Unsoed Rector Akhmad Sodiq and five other individuals as suspects in an alleged corruption case related to new student admissions.
“Based on the sufficiency of evidence and in accordance with the provisions of Article 90 of the new Criminal Procedure Code concerning the determination of suspects, the KPK has named six people as suspects,” said Acting Director of KPK Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Friday.
He explained that the six suspects are alleged to have violated Article 12 letter e or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.
The KPK then detained the six suspects for the first 20 days, starting from 21 August until 9 September 2026.