Parliament Criticises Prosecution of Contract Teacher for Holding Multiple Positions

THE CHAIRMAN of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR), Habiburokhman, has criticised the decision to name a contract teacher in Probolinggo as a suspect, due to the fact that he also held the position of local village assistant. The Probolinggo State Prosecutor’s Office made the decision to name the contract teacher from an elementary school as a suspect. “We regret the decision to name Muhammad Misbahul Huda, a contract teacher at an elementary school, as a suspect, simply because he also held the position of local village assistant,” said Habiburokhman in a statement on Tuesday, 24 February 2026. Scroll down to continue reading According to Habiburokhman, the contract teacher was not aware of the legal prohibition against holding multiple positions. Therefore, he believes that enforcement should prioritise humanitarian considerations. Prosecutors, he said, should also be guided by the provisions of Article 36 of the new Criminal Code, which requires the element of intent in criminal acts. In addition, he said that in this case involving the contract teacher, prosecutors should understand the paradigm of the new Criminal Code, which no longer focuses on retributive justice, but has shifted to substantive, rehabilitative, and restorative justice. “If that (action) is considered wrong, the contract teacher should only be asked to return one of his salaries to the state,” said the politician from the Gerindra Party. The Probolinggo State Prosecutor’s Office named Muhammad Misbahul Huda as a suspect because he was allegedly holding the dual position of local village assistant. The Prosecutor’s Office believes that the contract teacher’s actions have harmed the state to the tune of Rp 118 million, as he received a salary from two sources derived from state finances. Editor’s Choice: Is the Education Budget for MBG Unconstitutional?