Highlighting Sexual Harassment at FH UI, Yasonna Laoly: TPKS Law Allows Disclosure of Perpetrator's Identity
JAKARTA - Member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Yasonna H. Laoly, has affirmed that the identity of sexual violence perpetrators can be announced to the public as stipulated in the Sexual Violence Crimes Law (UU TPKS).
This statement was made by Yasonna while highlighting the alleged sexual harassment case at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (FH UI) involving several students.
“Besides the principal penalty, the law also regulates additional punishments, such as revocation of child custody rights, announcement of the perpetrator’s identity, obligation to undergo rehabilitation, and chemical castration in certain cases,” Yasonna told reporters on Thursday (16/4/2026).
According to him, sexual harassment does not only occur in the form of physical contact but can also be verbal or non-physical actions.
“Forms such as whistling, sexually tinged comments, and sending pornography-laden content are included in the category of harassment that can be legally processed,” said Yasonna.
Meanwhile, Yasonna continued, physical harassment can be punishable by imprisonment of up to 12 years or a maximum fine of Rp300 million.
“Therefore, courage to report is key. Do not stay silent when becoming a victim or witnessing sexual harassment,” he explained.
Yasonna exemplified that victim or witness statements can serve as valid evidence as long as they are supported by at least one other piece of evidence.
“This is an important breakthrough. Victims no longer need to fear reporting just because they feel they have no witnesses,” he said.
“With collective understanding and courage, we can create a safe environment free from sexual violence,” he concluded.
Previously reported, 16 FH UI students admitted to committing online sexual harassment against 27 victims through conversations in WhatsApp and LINE groups.
Chair of the FH UI Student Executive Board (BEM), Anandaku Dimas Rumi Chattaristo, said the admissions were made directly by the perpetrators.
“The apologies were conveyed by the 16 perpetrators. And regarding their status, they all admitted to their actions,” Dimas said on Monday (13/4/2026).
The Faculty of Law UI itself has expressed strong condemnation of the incident.
“The faculty strongly condemns all forms of behaviour that degrade human dignity and contradict legal values and academic ethics,” stated the official statement from the Faculty of Law UI on 12 April 2026.