Indonesian university rector implicated in alleged extortion over student admissions

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered an alleged extortion scheme involving the Rector of Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed), Akhmad Sodiq. The investigation centers on the independent admission process for the university's Faculty of Medicine, where significant sums were reportedly demanded from prospective students.

According to KPK officials, the alleged extortion involved a layered scheme where parents were asked to pay hundreds of millions of rupiah in addition to the standard tuition fees (UKT) and institutional development fees (IPI). For instance, in the Faculty of Medicine, UKT ranged from Rp7.1 million to Rp17 million, while IPI varied from Rp100 million to Rp260 million. However, the KPK found evidence of additional, unofficial fees being levied.

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However, in the process of admitting new students through the independent pathway, the KPK found evidence of alleged criminal acts of corruption in the form of extortion and other receipts/gratification. Thus, the additional costs arising from the levies, outside of the mandatory fees (UKT and IPI), were felt to be very burdensome for new prospective students.

One case detailed by the KPK involved parents being asked for Rp650 million. This demand was allegedly made by Unsoed's Vice Rector III, Norman Arie Prayoga, with the knowledge of Rector Akhmad Sodiq, through two intermediaries. Despite the parents fulfilling the payment, their child was ultimately not accepted into the university.

Further complicating the matter, the intermediaries, identified as Dian Mulia Wardhana and Adhi Wiharto, reportedly used the collected funds for their personal needs. When the parents sought a full refund, the money had already been spent. To address the financial shortfall, Norman Arie allegedly promised to repay the borrowed funds by facilitating the disbursement of three project packages within Unsoed, including canopy procurement and canteen renovation.

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This demand was met by the parents of the new prospective students. However, after the money was given to DMW (Dian Mulia Wardhana) and AW (Adhi Wiharto), their child was actually declared not to have passed the new student selection.