KPK Urged to Uncover Alleged Bribery in Unsoed Student Admissions

Herdiansyah Hamzah, a researcher at the Anti-Corruption Study Centre (SAKSI) of Mulawarman University, has urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to uncover the alleged bribery in the independent admission pathway of the Faculty of Medicine at Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed), rather than focusing solely on the university leaders caught in the sting operation.

Herdiansyah said the KPK needs to identify the parties suspected of both receiving and giving money in the independent admission process. According to him, the alleged transaction would not have occurred without a convergence of interests between the giver and the recipient.

“If there is a private party giving, then there must be someone receiving. The recipient is certainly the university. In our Indonesian criminal corruption law system, both the bribe recipient and the bribe giver are subject to the same articles,” Herdiansyah told Media Indonesia on Friday (21/8).

The statement was made following the KPK’s sting operation against several Unsoed leaders, including the rector and several vice-rectors. Herdiansyah assessed that the alleged bribery practice in independent pathway admissions is not a new phenomenon, as similar cases have previously surfaced at a number of state universities.

“If there is a new sting operation arrest with the same matter relating to the independent class at Unsoed, I am not too surprised. Because that is indeed the position of the independent class,” he said.

According to Herdiansyah, the KPK needs to expand its investigation by tracing parties outside the university structure. He believes the examination should not stop at the rector, vice-rectors, or other campus officials who have authority in the student admission process.

“That is what the KPK must target. Not only the authority holders on campus, not only the rector, vice-rectors and so on. I am certain it is also closely related. So it is necessary to target who received the money,” he said.

In addition to the recipients, the KPK was also asked to reveal the parties suspected of being the money givers. This tracing can be done by identifying prospective students and families who have an interest in the admission process through the independent pathway.

“Secondly, what must be targeted is who gave the money. It is easy, just trace whose child is there. It will clearly be visible,” he concluded.