Unila Chancellor's Bribe Case, KPK Hope To Become A Trigger For Education System Improvement

KPK officers brought the Chancellor of the University of Lampung (Unila) Karomani (central) as a suspect to be presented at a press conference on Sunday, August 21. (Antara-Sigid K)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) hopes that the alleged bribery case related to the acceptance of prospective new students at the University of Lampung (Unila) in 2022 will be a lesson for the world of education.

Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri said that the improvement of the system and governance is expected to continue following the alleged bribery case that tarnishes the dignity of the world of education.

"The handling of this case is a trigger for the world of education to continue to improve the system in governance," Ali said in a written statement, quoted Monday, September 12.

Ali ensured that the KPK would also continue to encourage various steps to prevent corruption in the campus environment. Among them by conducting anti-corruption education.

In addition, the KPK confirmed that it would continue to investigate the alleged bribery that ensnared the former Chancellor of Unila Karomani during student admissions in Unila. This step is a form of commitment by the anti-corruption commission to encourage anti-corruption education reform.

"KPK certainly continues to explore and investigate the involvement of other parties in the alleged corruption crime of accepting new students in Unila," he said.

"We hope that the relevant parties will cooperate in the investigation process," continued Ali.

As previously reported, the KPK has named four suspects for alleged bribery in accepting new students at the University of Lampung in 2022. The determination of this suspect began with a hand arrest operation carried out in Lampung, Bandung, and Bali.

The suspects involved in this case are the Chancellor of Unila 2020-2024 Karomani; Vice Chancellor I for Academics at Unila Heryandi; Chairman of the Unila Senate Muhammad Basri; and private Andi Desfiandi.

In this case, Karomani is suspected of setting a price for prospective new students on his campus with a range of IDR 100 million to IDR 350 million when carrying out the Selection of Independent Entering the University of Lampung (Simanila). This request was made after Heryandi and Muhammad Basri personally selected the ability of parents to pay.

From his actions, Karomani allegedly managed to collect IDR 603 million from a lecturer named Mualimin. Furthermore, he used the money he received for personal purposes of IDR 575 million.

Meanwhile, from Muhammad Basri and Budi Sutomo, who are the Head of the Planning and Public Relations Bureau of Lampung University, it is suspected that the total money received by Karomani reached IDR 4.4 billion. This money was then transferred to deposit savings, gold bars, and some were still in cash.