LPDP Finds 44 Awardees Violating Provisions, Eight People Must Return Funds

JAKARTA - The Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) has imposed sanctions on 44 scholarship recipients (awardees) for failing to fulfill the obligation of service in accordance with the provisions of the program.

LPDP President Director Sudarto said that of this amount, eight people have been required to return the scholarship funds received. Meanwhile, the other 36 awardees are still in the process of being examined.

"We have conducted research on perhaps more than 600 awardees and of that number, those who have been sanctioned, including the return of eight people, 36 more are in the process," Sudarto said at the APBN KiTa press conference in Jakarta, Monday, February 23.

Sudarto explained that the data on violations was obtained through access to immigration crossing data from the Directorate General of Immigration, community reports, and social media searches for awardees.

However, he emphasized that not all automatic reports resulted in violations. Some scholarship recipients are known to still be in the internship period or building businesses abroad for 2 years, which is allowed according to the scholarship recipient guidelines.

There are also awardees who have completed their service period or received official assignments from the institution where they work.

"We will process each case objectively and proportionately. Of course, we will continue to maintain the public trust that this is public funds that must be returned and provide the greatest benefit to Indonesia," he said.

Regarding sanctions, Sudarto said that awardees who were proven to have violated the obligation could be required to return the scholarship funds and interest, as well as blocking them from participating in the LPDP program in the future.

The provision has been included in the agreement signed by each scholarship recipient.

On the same occasion, Sudarto also responded to the viral case of LPDP alumni with the initials DS who became the public spotlight after uploading a video showing his son's British passport accompanied by a statement that some netizens considered degrading Indonesian passports.

"Of course, this action does not reflect the values of integrity, ethics, and also nationality that have always been instilled by the LPDP to LPDP scholarship recipients," he said.

Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa added that the husband of the alumni with the initials DS had expressed his willingness to return the scholarship funds received, including the interest.

"The boss of the LPDP has spoken to the husband concerned. And he seems to have agreed to return the money used from the LPDP. So it includes the interest. LPDP money if I put that money in the bank, there is interest, with fair treatment," said Purbaya.

LPDP emphasized its commitment to maintaining accountability for public funds and ensuring that each scholarship recipient fulfills the obligation of service to Indonesia.