KPK: Unsoed Rector Extortion Case Involves High School Teachers
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered the alleged involvement of high school teachers in the admission of new students through the independent pathway at Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed), Purwokerto, Central Java.
Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, stated that there was alleged bargaining in the process. The mastermind was the Head of Academic Affairs at Unsoed, Eko Sumanto.
“As for the independent pathway, there were bargaining methods. This is in the third cluster, and it is indeed very strong, because ES [Eko Sumanto], as the Head of Academic Affairs, was also a member of the independent pathway admissions committee. So, he was indeed a trusted person of ASO [Akhmad Sodiq] as the Rector,” said Taufik during a press conference at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Friday evening (21/8).
“The transactions or negotiations related to levies on prospective new students, conducted through chairpersons, through parents, and through teachers, were also carried out by ES,” he continued.
Taufik stated that investigators found evidence of several groups of high school students coordinated by their teachers to enter Unsoed through the independent pathway.
“We found WhatsApp conversations between these teachers and ES, in which there was bargaining over the number of quotas, and also bargaining over the amount per person, per head. It ranged from around Rp500 million to the lowest at Rp50 million per head,” he revealed.
Taufik said that new student admissions through the independent pathway have the potential to become a breeding ground for corruption. This is because the university has the status of a Public Service Agency (BLU) and can independently manage its finances and assets.
For this matter, Taufik will coordinate with the KPK’s Deputy for Prevention and Monitoring to develop a programme to close this loophole.
“Of course, the methods and points from the results of the ongoing investigation will be conveyed to the Deputy for Prevention for strengthening, or even, if it is done frontally, the removal of the independent pathway. That authority lies with the relevant ministry or the university,” said Taufik.
“But, what we understand is that it exists, because now, if I am not mistaken, universities have become BLUs, separate entities, which can manage their own budgeting. So, this will certainly also be analysed by the prevention team,” he added.
The KPK has named a total of six suspects in the alleged extortion case related to new student admissions at Unsoed or the acceptance of gratuities.
The suspects are Unsoed Rector Akhmad Sodiq; Unsoed Vice Rector III Norman Arie Prayoga; Unsoed Head of Academic Affairs Eko Sumanto; and three private individuals named Dian Mulia Wardhana, Adhi Wiharto, and Mulyono.
This determination follows a sting operation in Purwokerto and Jakarta as well as intensive examinations conducted by the KPK since Thursday (20/8).
The KPK has detained the suspects for the first 20 days from 21 August to 9 September 2026. The detention is being carried out at the State Detention Centre branch of the KPK’s Merah Putih Building.