IPB University Suspends 16 Students Involved in Sexual Harassment

IPB University has imposed a one-semester suspension on 16 perpetrators of sexual harassment in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FTT) at IPB. Dean of FTT IPB University, Slamet Budijanto, stated that the 16 students were proven to have violated campus life regulations and committed sexual harassment against female students. “The sanction of a one-semester suspension was imposed on the 16 students proven to be involved on 17 April 2026,” he said in an official IPB statement on Monday, 20 April 2026.

Slamet explained that the alleged sexual harassment case, which occurred in a private chat within a conversation group, took place in 2024. He mentioned that the campus officially received the report on 14 April 2026.

In response to the report, he said, a team from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology along with the Office of Campus Security, Safety, and Protection Management (KMKKPK) summoned the reporter on 15 April 2026. The day after, FTT IPB University called the relevant parties for case investigation and evidence collection.

“Based on the examination process and available evidence, FTT then imposed a sanction of a one-semester suspension on the 16 students,” he stated.

Director of Cooperation, Communication, and Marketing at IPB University, Alfian Helmi, said that IPB University places victim recovery as the top priority. The steps taken include restoring the victim’s rights in both academic and social aspects, as well as providing psychological counselling and ongoing support. “Then, guarantees of protection from pressure, intimidation, or stigma; and strengthening safe spaces for victims and reporters,” he said.

He added that IPB University recognises that every case is an opportunity to strengthen the system. Therefore, the institution is committed to enhancing prevention and handling mechanisms for cases, increasing education on ethics and equality in the campus environment, and fostering a culture of mutual respect and courage to report. “IPB University also invites the entire academic community to jointly maintain the campus as a safe, inclusive, and civilised space,” he stated.

The Student Executive Board of the Student Family (BEM KM) IPB University previously revealed that there were 16 students allegedly involved in a sexual violence case in the FTT environment. President of BEM KM IPB University, Abdan Muhammad Abdan Rofi, said that the alleged perpetrators and victims are from the same batch, namely batch 59 in the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology IPB.

Abdan said that this case has been handled intensively by the campus side. He stated that the faculty deanship plans to impose academic sanctions on the perpetrators. “It is currently under discussion by the faculty deanship for the details of the academic sanctions. There are 16 alleged perpetrators,” said Abdan when contacted on Friday, 17 April 2026.

This alleged sexual violence came under public scrutiny after screenshots of the perpetrators’ conversations circulated widely on social media. The dozen students engaged in sexually toned conversations harassing the victim in an internal group on a messaging platform.

Based on initial information, Abdan explained that this sexual violence occurred in 2024. The perpetrators and victims had previously mediated in the same year. The mediation between the two parties at that time was conducted within the internal scope of the mechanical and biosystems technology department, facilitated by seniors.

However, the case resurfaced after a sexual violence case with the same modus operandi was revealed at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia. Abdan said the victim reposted the screenshots of the harassing conversations. Now, the victim has also officially reported to the campus authorities. “Currently, the mediation between the perpetrators and the victim is brought to the deanship level and accompanied by the institution and BEM,” he said.