Unsri Chancellor Removes Position Of Lecturer Perpetrator Of Harassment Of Student

Deputy Chancellor 1 for Academic Affairs Unsri Zainuddin Nawawi/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

PALEMBANG - The Chancellor of Sriwijaya University (Unsri) has decided to revoke the position of a lecturer who is suspected of being the perpetrator of sexual harassment against a student on his campus.

The lecturer with the initials A (34) was removed from his position as head of the department at one of the faculties at Unsri.

Deputy Chancellor 1 for Academic Affairs Unsri Zainuddin Nawawi said the decision was a mutual agreement with the rector, after the alleged perpetrator admitted that he had correctly committed immoral acts against his student, during an ethics meeting a week ago.

"It is true that we have given witnesses in the form of revocation of his position as head of the department since a week ago. He has admitted his actions," he said in a quote from Antara, Wednesday, December 1.

Although he could not explain in detail, Zainuddin Nawawi ensured that the rectorate also gave administrative and academic sanctions to the lecturers who had the status of the state civil apparatus (ASN).

"This sanction is our joint decision as an institution," he said.

Previously, the student with the initials DR (22) who claimed to be a victim of sexual harassment, finally reported it to the South Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumsel) on Tuesday, November 30.

Head of Sub-Directorate 4 Youth, Children and Women (Renakta) of the South Sumatra Regional Police's Criminal Investigation Unit, Police Commissioner Masnoni in Palembang, said the alleged victim admitted to being physically abused by his lecturer.

According to him, the victim admitted that she experienced the harassment when she faced the lecturer in her room at the Unsri Indralaya Campus, Ogan Ilir, a few months ago.

The victim, who had finished his thesis, came before him to ask for a signature from the lecturer as a condition for his graduation.

"He (the victim) has finished his thesis, he just needs to ask for a signature for the application for graduation. Yes, that's where the incident was used," he said.

Apart from DR, Masnoni confirmed that there were two other female students who were victims of sexual harassment from unscrupulous lecturers on the campus.

However, the harassment they experienced was not physical, but through a WhatsApp telephone line.

“There are three victims in total, but currently there is only one prison (police report). The other two victims were abused not physically, but from telephone lines," he said.

However, he ensured that the police would follow up on the victim's report by calling a number of witnesses.

After the information is considered complete, the police will conduct a crime scene investigation (TKP), and even call an individual lecturer as the reported person, so that this case can be resolved.

"We will develop it so that this case becomes clear. If there is a criminal element, it will be followed up according to applicable law," he said.