Four Suspects in the Rp21 Billion Scholarship Corruption Case Detained by the Banda Aceh District Attorney's Office

The prosecutor's office escorted three suspects in the alleged corruption case of student scholarship funds, in Banda Aceh, Wednesday (29/7/2026). ANTARA/M Haris SA

BANDA ACEH - The Public Prosecutor of the Banda Aceh District Attorney's Office (JPU Kejari) has detained four suspects in a case of alleged corruption in scholarships at the Aceh Province Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) worth Rp. 21 billion.

Head of the Banda Aceh District Attorney's Intelligence Section, Muhammad Kadafi, said the arrest of the suspects was made after the public prosecutor received the transfer of case responsibility from the Aceh High Prosecutor's investigators.

"The public prosecutor has detained four suspects for alleged corruption in scholarships at the Aceh Provincial BPSDM. to prepare the indictment file and for the purposes of trial in court," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 29.

The four suspects are initials SY as Head of the Aceh Provincial BPSDM as well as the Budget User in the 2021 to 2024 budget year. ET, as Treasurer of the Intercultural Education Partner Foundation (IEP) Persada Indonesia.

Then, CP as the Authority of the Budget User of the Human Resources Development Program at the Aceh Provincial BPSDM, and RHY as the Head of the Non-Parastatal Human Resources Development Sub-field at the Aceh Provincial BPSDM and also the Technical Implementation Officer (PPTK) of the Human Resources Development Program at the Aceh Provincial BPSDM 2021 to 2024.

"The three suspects, namely SY, CP, and RHY, are detained at the Banda Aceh Class IIB Jail. Meanwhile, ET, a woman, is detained at the Lhoknga Class III Prison, Aceh Besar Regency. All three are detained for the next 20 days," said Muhammad Kadafi.

Kadafi said the alleged corruption case began when the Aceh Provincial BPSDM implemented an S2 and S3 education program for students from Aceh abroad in 2021 to 2024 with a value of more than Rp. 21 billion.

The scholarship was disbursed to 15 students to study at the University of Rhode Island through the Persada Indonesia IEP account of more than Rp. 21 billion. Then, the Aceh Provincial BPSDM re-disbursed the scholarship students of the University of Rhode Island through the Persada IEP account of Rp. 5.8 billion in 2024.

"The modus operandi of the alleged corruption with the caramark up or inflation of the scholarship component by the foundation to the Aceh Provincial BPSDM. The payment is not in accordance with the provisions of the agreement and creates a fictitious liability," he said.

Based on the results of the audit of the Aceh Representative of the Development Finance Supervisory Agency (BPKP), the actions of the suspects caused a state loss of more than IDR 14.32 billion. Of this amount, IDR 3.38 billion and 2,400 US dollars have been confiscated as evidence.

The suspects were charged with violating Article 603 Jo Article 20 letter a and c Jo Article 126 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code Jo Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended into Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes.

As well as Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption, Article 20 letter a and c in conjunction with Article 126 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.

Gaddafi appealed to the public, government organizers, business actors, and parties to uphold integrity, transparency, accountability, and compliance with laws and regulations in every activity.

"We also invite the public to play an active role in preventing and eradicating corruption, not accepting or receiving gratification and reporting if they know of any indications of corruption with data and information that can be accounted for," said Muhammad Kadafi.