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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

Jakarta Police Investigate UI Students in Sexual Harassment Case

From Tempo · (2d ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Jakarta police are investigating allegations of sexual harassment involving 16 University of Indonesia (UI) students accused of verbal and digital harassment via a WhatsApp group.
  • While no formal police report has been filed, authorities have coordinated with UI and victims' legal advisors, gathering evidence.
  • UI has suspended the academic status of the 16 accused students, who admitted to the harassment during hearings.

The University of Indonesia (UI) finds itself at the center of a serious investigation as the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police probe allegations of sexual harassment among its students. The case, which surfaced on social media, involves a WhatsApp group where 16 students are accused of engaging in verbal and digital harassment targeting fellow students and lecturers.

As of today, the Metro Jaya Police has not officially received a police report.

— Chief of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police Sr. Comr. Budi HermantoStating the current status of the formal complaint.

While the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police have stated that a formal police report has not yet been received, they have proactively engaged with UI. The Directorate of Women and Children's Protection and Anti-Human Trafficking has coordinated with the university and provided consultation assistance to the victims' legal advisors. This demonstrates a commitment to addressing the issue, even in the absence of a formal complaint, by actively compiling evidence.

We have coordinated with the victims' legal advisors to provide consultation assistance related to this case.

— Chief of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police Sr. Comr. Budi HermantoDescribing police coordination with victims' representatives.

University of Indonesia has taken swift action by suspending the academic status of the 16 students implicated in the scandal. These sanctions were issued based on recommendations from the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Satgas PPKS UI), ensuring a thorough and fair examination process. The suspended students are barred from all academic activities during the investigation.

The PPA and PPO directorates have collected some evidence and produced reports regarding their coordination with the university.

— Chief of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police Sr. Comr. Budi HermantoConfirming the collection of evidence and coordination efforts.

This case highlights the persistent challenges of sexual harassment within educational institutions. The public exposure via social media and the subsequent university and police response underscore the need for robust mechanisms to prevent and address such incidents. UI's actions, including conducting hearings where the accused students admitted to their actions, reflect a serious approach to tackling sexual violence on campus. The university's commitment to an objective and fair process is crucial as the investigation continues.

This recommendation is part of the ongoing steps to ensure an optimal, objective, and fair examination process.

— Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and International Affairs at UI, Erwin Agustian PanigoroExplaining the rationale behind the academic sanctions.
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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