In The Aftermath Of The Unila Chancellor's OTT, The KPK Will Investigate Last Year's Independent New Student Admissions

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

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that it will investigate allegations of bribery in accepting new students from the University of Lampung (Unila) from year to year.

This step was taken after they arrested the Rector of Unila Karomani who was suspected of receiving bribes from prospective students.

KPK News Section Head Ali Fikri said investigators would investigate whether or not there was bribery in the previous year. "Of course we will investigate it," Ali told reporters on Thursday, August 25.

Even so, the KPK is now focusing on solving the current case that ensnares Karomani. Searches were carried out in a number of places, including the campus building.

In addition, investigators will also summon a number of witnesses who are suspected of knowing the practice of buying and selling chairs for prospective Unila students.

"We hope that the cooperative witnesses will attend and explain what is in front of the investigators," said Ali.

Not only that, people who know about the unfair practice at Unila report it. The KPK, said Ali, needs the support of all parties to thoroughly investigate the alleged bribery of accepting new students.

"We also hope that community support will be effective so that the eradication of corruption will be effective in accordance with the objectives of efforts to reduce the number of corruption through prosecution," he said.

Previously, the KPK named four suspects for alleged bribery of accepting new students at the University of Lampung in 2022. The determination of these suspects began with arresting operations carried out in Lampung, Bandung and Bali.

The suspects involved in this case are the Chancellor of the University of Lampung 2020-2024 Karomani; Vice Chancellor I for Academic Affairs, University of Lampung Heryandi; Chairman of the Senate of the University of Lampung Muhammad Basri; and private Andi Desfiandi.

In this case, Karomani allegedly set the price for prospective new students at his campus in the range of Rp. 100 million to Rp. 350 million when carrying out the Independent Selection for Entrance to the University of Lampung (Simanila). This request was made after Heryandi and Muhammad Basri personally selected the student's parents' ability to pay.

One of the families of the prospective Simanila participants, Andi, then took the initiative to pay after his family was accepted as a student because of Karomani's assistance. He then handed over Rp150 million in cash in Lampung which was taken by a lecturer, namely Mualimin.

From his actions, Karomani allegedly managed to collect Rp603 million from Mualimin which was then used for personal purposes amounting to Rp575 million.

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