Key facts on research fraud at international conference

The domestic research ecosystem has come under scrutiny after several Indonesian nationals were allegedly involved in research fraud at the International Society of Pneumonia and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) 2026 conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 17-21 May 2026. Two individuals suspected of academic ethics violations at the pneumonia scientific conference are Prihantini and Rifaldy Fajar. Both have been confirmed as alumni of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). Key facts regarding the alleged international research fraud by Indonesian nationals are as follows: Case timeline revealed The alleged research fraud was first exposed by epidemiologist Wa Ode Dwi Daningrat, who participated in the scientific conference representing Oxford University. According to Dwi, she caught Prihantini, whose real name is Prihantini, posing as Dimas Fajar Prasetyo—one of the listed authors—while presenting the research orally during the second day’s poster spotlight session. Dwi observed Prihantini removing a name card reading ‘Riana Dwi Kurniawati’ and replacing it with one stating ‘Dimas Fajar Prasetyo’ just before stepping onto the podium. ‘It happened right in front of me, with no barriers. Maybe she was in a hurry and didn’t notice the people around her,’ Dwi recounted during a video call on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. Following the presentation, Dwi asked Prihantini to explain the research claimed to be authored by five people—Prihantini as lead author, Dimas Fajar Prasetyo, Aminatus Sa’adah, Riana Dwi Kurniati, and Rivaldy Fajar as team leader. Dwi found Prihantini unable to articulate details of their abstract and poster on the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). After being pressed by Dwi, Prihartini admitted she was not Dimas or Riana as claimed before international scientists at the conference. Additionally, their abstract and poster showed signs of fabricated data and AI-generated content, as it was impossible to produce such flawless research results unintentionally. Dwi, along with Ida Bagus Mandhara Brasika, a lecturer at Udayana University’s Faculty of Marine and Fisheries pursuing a Climate Mathematics doctoral degree at Exeter University, reported the allegations to the ISPPD 2026 committee on 19 May 2026. On 21 May 2026, the ISPPD committee revoked the travel grant for Prihantini’s group. The case went viral after Dwi and Ida Bagus Mandhara Brasika shared it on social media. Modus operandi After confronting Prihatini, Dwi suspects Prihantini and her associates sought to obtain foreign travel grants to attend the conference without conducting actual research. The research group is alleged to have participated in other conferences, including the International Conference on Resource Sustainability 2025 at the University of Adelaide, Australia; the Outstanding Research Abstract Award in Kyoto, Japan; and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver Single Topic Conference 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. Perpetrators not active researchers in Indonesia Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto stated initial information suggests Prihantini and Rifaldy Fajar are not active lecturers or researchers at Indonesian universities. However, he added the ministry is still investigating the facts, including their status, affiliations, and links to higher education institutions or research bodies in Indonesia. ‘Based on initial information we have received, the parties involved in this case are not indicated as active lecturers or researchers at Indonesian universities,’ Brian said in a written statement on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. Perpetrators are LPDP scholarship recipients M. Lukmanul Hakim, Head of Legal and Communications at the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP), confirmed Prihantini as a scholarship recipient who completed her studies in 2022. ‘Based on initial internal data checks, the individual named Prihantini is recorded as an LPDP scholarship recipient who completed her studies in 2022,’ Lukmanul said in a written statement on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. UNY’s response UNY’s Academic Vice-Rector Nur Hidayanto stated that Prihantini and Rifaldy Fajar are registered graduates of the Mathematics Study Program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MIPA). ‘Our database confirms both names are alumni from the 2017 and 2018 graduating classes,’ Nur said on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. However, Nur said the university has yet to confirm the research fraud allegations, and thus cannot take any action. Suspects’ response According to Nur, since the case went viral earlier this week, only Prihantini has been contacted by the university. Nur said Prihantini would provide clarification on her personal social media account, but her account is currently inaccessible. Rifaldy, whom UNY has not yet reached, is said to have already issued a clarification via his social media account. ‘The clarification for the research fraud case is actually on Rifaldy’s social media. Prihantini’s account is inaccessible,’ he said. Verification challenges According to Nur, the verification process faces technical challenges due to the lack of supporting visual evidence available publicly. Institutions cannot simply match the suspects’ faces with campus photo records. ’The two names are in the database, but we do not know the