Moments When UI Law Students Involved in Sexual Harassment Group Chat Are 'Publicly Shamed' on Campus

Dozens of students from the Faculty of Law at the University of Indonesia (FH UI), who were members of a sexual harassment discussion group on a messaging app, faced the consequences. They received widespread criticism and public jeering, or ‘dirujak’, during an open forum held on campus on Monday (13/4). The internal hearing for 16 FH UI law students accused of sexual harassment nearly descended into chaos. Tensions arose as the perpetrators were paraded one by one before fellow students, who immediately jeered and strongly condemned their actions. The atmosphere of the internal ‘trial’ was broadcast live on TikTok on Monday night. The live video quickly went viral on social media, showing the mood turning heated as soon as the perpetrators appeared. Several other students, both women and men, advanced towards the long table behind which the dozen male students from the harassment group sat. They hurled words of anger at the group members. Additionally, recordings captured jeers and curses from the crowd towards the perpetrators from various parts of the hearing venue. Amid the chaos, a woman’s voice was heard attempting to calm the situation. This sexual harassment case has been a topic of public discussion for at least the last two days. The public is awaiting firm and transparent action from the campus to resolve the case that has tarnished the university’s reputation. The perpetrators have reportedly apologised at a forum held in the FH UI Auditorium on Monday (13/4) night. FH UI Student Executive Board Chair Anandaku Dimas Rumi Chattaristo said the perpetrators were deliberately gathered in a forum to allow victims who wished to receive direct apologies. “Last night, a forum was indeed held in the FH UI Auditorium to accommodate victims who wanted to receive direct apologies from the perpetrators,” Dimas told reporters on Tuesday (14/4). Dimas said the forum was attended by 16 perpetrators and the victims. The victims expressed disappointment and anger over the alleged harassment in the messaging app group. “Regarding the victims’ response, I cannot represent all their feelings, and I respect what they feel, but certainly disappointment and anger encompass those who became victims,” Dimas said. The perpetrators apologised. Citing detik.com, the alleged sexual harassment perpetrators in the chat group apologised directly in front of the victims at the open student forum. Dimas stated that an apology alone is not enough. He said firm sanctions favouring the victims are needed in this case. “However, it must be emphasised again that an apology alone will not suffice; firm sanctions favouring the victims are needed in this case,” he said. Meanwhile, citing the FH UI Instagram account (@fakultashukumui), the campus has received the report of the alleged harassment and condemned it. “On 12 April 2026, the Faculty received a report regarding alleged violations of the code of ethics that also potentially contain criminal elements, related to activities of some students. Based on the report, the Faculty became aware of circulating screenshots of conversations allegedly involving students and containing inappropriate content, including indications of sexual violence,” stated the Faculty of Law UI as quoted from its Instagram account on Monday. Additionally, citing detik.com, UI Rector Heri Hermansyah said the rectorate is still awaiting a complete report from the FH UI dean’s office regarding the alleged harassment. “I only heard about it last night, and I’ve asked the dean again, waiting for a response. But I’ve also seen in various media that the Dean of the Faculty of Law has responded. So later, the directorate will monitor how it’s handled at the faculty. We’ll monitor it together, we’ll fight sexual harassment,” Heri said, as per the Faculty of Law UI’s statement on its Instagram viewed on Monday (13/4).