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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Palace to investigate alleged payments to UBK law faculty student leader

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A deputy minister of state affairs stated he would investigate allegations that the student executive body of Bung Karno University's law faculty received money after a demonstration.
  • The head of the student executive body admitted to receiving millions of rupiah, stating that about 20 percent of the promised amount was used for personal needs and distributed to alumni and other student body members.
  • The money was allegedly given by a police member through an alumnus to prevent the student group from demonstrating at Patung Kuda and to facilitate a closed mediation with the Vice President.

Indonesia's State Palace is looking into claims that the student executive body of the University of Bung Karno's law faculty accepted money following a protest. Deputy Minister of State Affairs Bambang Eko Suhariyanto said he had not yet received detailed information about the alleged payments.

I will check the news first, what the truth is.

— Bambang Eko SuhariyantoDeputy Minister of State Affairs responding to allegations of student leaders receiving money.

"I will check the news first, what the truth is," Suhariyanto told reporters on Tuesday in Jakarta. The allegations surfaced after Muhammad Abdimaludin, the head of the student executive body, admitted to receiving money during a "Tata Ulang Indonesia" (Indonesia Reset) demonstration on June 15, 2026.

A viral video circulating on social media shows Abdimaludin confessing to receiving millions of rupiah to prevent his group from marching to the Patung Kuda area in Central Jakarta. He stated that he received approximately 20 percent of the promised sum, which he then used for personal expenses and distributed to UBK alumni, fellow BEM FH UBK members, and the BEM FE UBK.

Regarding the issue that is the subject of discussion, regarding the money, I did receive it.

— Muhammad AbdimaludinHead of BEM FH UBK admitting to receiving money during a protest.

Abdimaludin detailed the distribution: 2.5 million rupiah to two alumni, 2 million rupiah to his deputy, 2 million rupiah to Mubarak, and 2 million rupiah to the BEM FE UBK. He claimed the money was delivered by a police officer known to him through a UBK alumnus. The funds were reportedly intended to stop his group from proceeding to Patung Kuda and to encourage a private meeting with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

2.5 million to two alumni, 2 million to my deputy, 2 million to Mubarak, and 2 million to BEM FE UBK.

— Muhammad AbdimaludinDetailing the distribution of the received funds.

Earlier, UBK students held the "Tata Ulang Indonesia" protest, marching from their campus to Patung Kuda. After a confrontation with police at Tugu Tani, protest leaders met with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka for a 60-minute closed mediation. Topics included the "MBG" (free nutritious food) program and the "Koperasi Desa Merah Putih." Abdimaludin stated after the meeting that the Vice President had noted their demands, including an evaluation of irregularities in the country. He warned of further protests if their demands were not met within five days.

The Vice President noted our demands, including an evaluation and improvement of all irregularities in the country today, such as the free nutritious food (MBG) and the Red White Village Cooperative.

— Muhammad AbdimaludinAfter a meeting with the Vice President.
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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