Unesa Suspends Six Students Suspected of Verbally Harassing 26 Students and Lecturers
Surabaya State University (Unesa) has suspended six suspected perpetrators of sexual violence whose case went viral on social media. This step was taken following allegations of verbal harassment through a group conversation that allegedly targeted 26 victims, comprising students and lecturers at Unesa’s Faculty of Vocational Studies.
The head of Unesa’s Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Violence (PPK), Iman Pasu Marganda Hadiarto Purba, said the six reported individuals have been suspended from all academic and campus activities while the handling process is underway. He stated the move is part of an administrative procedure to allow the examination process to proceed independently while upholding the principle of presumption of innocence.
"The reported individuals are suspended from all academic activities, except for matters related to fulfilling the examination obligations of this case. This is not a final sanction, but part of the handling procedure," Iman said in a statement on Sunday (19/7/2026).
The Unesa PPK Task Force confirmed that the handling of this case is oriented towards the protection and recovery of the victims. The assistance provided includes psychological services, legal aid, and ongoing academic support. Additionally, Unesa guarantees the confidentiality of the identities of all victims, reporters, and witnesses.
Iman explained that the case originated from a complaint regarding an unethical chat history in a WhatsApp group involving six students from the Faculty of Vocational Studies as the reported individuals. The conversation then circulated widely on social media and was promptly followed up after the Unesa PPK Task Force received an official report.
"The case involves verbal violence that occurred in the form of a group chat among the students concerned, containing unethical messages about their friends and also several of their lecturers," he clarified.
Since the report was received, the Unesa PPK Task Force has handled the matter according to the procedures stipulated in the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation Number 55 of 2024 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education Environments. The handling is carried out with a victim-oriented approach, upholding the principles of justice, confidentiality, and prudence.
"In handling this case, there is a strict mechanism in place, starting from receiving the report, reviewing the case, collecting evidence, examining the reported individuals and witnesses, providing victim assistance, summoning parents, compiling conclusions and recommendations, to the imposition of sanctions by the rector," he outlined.
The handling process is still ongoing. Based on the interim examination results from evidence and testimonies from several witnesses, the case involves six reported individuals. Meanwhile, the number of suspected victims reaches 26 people, consisting of students, with four of them being lecturers.