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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Indonesian VP Gibran Urged to Clarify Student Bribery Claims by Ruling Party

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) demands Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka clarify bribery allegations involving student executive boards.
  • PDIP Chairperson Deddy Sitorus called for an open explanation of alleged cash flows and a meeting with student representatives at the Vice Presidential Palace.
  • The controversy could damage the government's image, especially with the Vice President's name implicated.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has formally requested Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to address allegations of bribery linked to student leaders from Bung Karno University (UBK). The demand centers on clarifying supposed cash flows to members of the UBK's Faculty of Law and Faculty of Economics Student Executive Boards (BEM) during recent demonstrations.

Although it may be hard for the public to accept, it is impossible that he did not know. But he needs to speak up.

— Deddy SitorusChairperson of the PDI-P Central Executive Board, explaining the demand for Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to clarify bribery allegations.

Deddy Sitorus, Chairperson of the PDIP Central Executive Board, stated that Gibran must provide a transparent account of the alleged financial transactions. This includes details about a meeting held with UBK student representatives at the Vice Presidential Palace. "Although it may be hard for the public to accept, it is impossible that he did not know. But he needs to speak up," Sitorus urged from the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. He also stressed the need to reveal the origin of the alleged Rp20 million bribe, questioning whether it stemmed from extortion or a political operation.

The bribery controversy has the potential to tarnish the government's image, particularly as the Vice President's name is now involved, according to Sitorus. The opposition party views an official explanation from the administration as crucial to dispelling public speculation surrounding the incident.

It might be money from extortion, or is there a political operation involved? This needs to be made clear.

— Deddy SitorusChairperson of the PDI-P Central Executive Board, questioning the origin of the alleged bribe money.

Previously, Muhammad Abdimaludin, Chairperson of BEM FH UBK, admitted to receiving the bribe. He claimed the funds were channeled through the police by university alumni, who allegedly requested the student body refrain from protesting near the Presidential Palace on June 15 and instead agree to a meeting with Gibran. Abdimaludin confessed to using the money for personal needs and distributing it among other alumni and BEM members. In response, UBK has suspended Abdimaludin's student status following his confession.

Rp2.5 million went to two alumni, Rp2 million to my deputy, Rp2 million to Mubarak, and Rp2 million to BEM FE UBK.

— Muhammad AbdimaludinChairperson of BEM FH UBK, detailing the distribution of the alleged bribe money.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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