Police investigate Undip student case over alleged mob beating by dozens of campus seniors

Semarang City Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Polrestabes Semarang) is investigating an alleged assault and mob beating against Arnendo (20), a fourth-semester student in the Social Anthropology programme at Diponegoro University (Undip). The suspected perpetrators of the mob beating are his friends and seniors on campus. ‘This matter is at the investigation stage, and six witnesses have been questioned. For other witnesses, examinations could not be conducted due to scheduling delays requested by the witnesses,’ said AKBP Andika Dharma Sena, head of the Semarang City Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, when contacted by Republika about the case on Wednesday (4 March 2026). He added that those questioned so far consist of friends and relatives of the suspected victim. Andika revealed that Undip had previously written to Polrestabes Semarang to ask that witness examinations be postponed, because the university intended to handle the matter internally. ‘Undip sent a letter to the Semarang Police requesting a postponement of examining witnesses on the grounds that it would be settled internally. However, to date the investigation continues and the case will be brought to court,’ said Andika. Arnendo is believed to have been the victim of assault and mob beating by around 30 of his friends and seniors. As a result, he sustained a number of injuries across his body. Arnendo, who is in his fourth semester, is now represented by his lawyer, Zainal Petir. Through his private Instagram account @zainalpetir_, Zainal uploaded footage showing Arnendo’s physical condition after the attack. The video shows bruising on several parts of Arnendo’s body, including burn marks from a cigarette.