Dentistry student accuses alumnus of plagiarism at Airlangga University

A former dentistry specialist student, identified as SA, has accused an alumnus of Airlangga University's (Unair) Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) of plagiarism. The accuser is urging FKG Unair to impose strict sanctions, including revoking the alleged perpetrator's academic degree.

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The victim was in a subordinate position (senior-junior) and found it difficult to refuse the request from drg FLL.

SA's legal representative, Muhammad Taufiq, stated that the alleged plagiarism occurred between 2021 and 2022 when both SA and the accused alumnus, FLL, were enrolled in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery specialist program at FKG Unair. Taufiq explained that SA, as a junior student, was asked by the senior to complete a thesis and final paper from start to finish.

"The victim was in a subordinate position (senior-junior) and found it difficult to refuse the request from drg FLL," Taufiq said in a written statement on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. After the academic work was completed, it was handed over to FLL as a requirement for graduation. However, when the work was published, it was claimed as FLL's own writing without crediting SA as the author.

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We are reporting violations of ghostwriting or unauthorized authorship, removal of attribution from another person's writing, and plagiarism.

The victim discovered the issue in March 2026 after the academic work was officially published. SA subsequently reported the alleged academic misconduct to Airlangga University. "We are reporting violations of ghostwriting or unauthorized authorship, removal of attribution from another person's writing, and plagiarism," Taufiq stated.

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The findings of the Ethics Committee should have been sufficient basis for Unair to impose sanctions in the form of revocation of the academic degree against FLL.

The report led to a hearing by the FKG Unair Ethics Committee. The committee's findings, presented on Monday, July 13, 2026, confirmed that the disputed academic work was verbatim identical to the manuscript prepared by SA. During the examination, FLL reportedly could not provide evidence of authorship, citing a damaged laptop. The FKG Ethics Committee recommended that the case be re-examined by the Unair Ethics Council with an independent team. However, the victim expressed disappointment, believing the committee's findings were sufficient grounds for Unair to revoke FLL's degree. "If there are no actions, we will report this to the police immediately," Taufiq asserted.

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If there are no actions, we will report this to the police immediately.