April 17, 2026 | 06:26 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Metro Jaya Police is currently gathering evidence regarding allegations of sexual harassment involving several students at the University of Indonesia (UI). A total of 16 students are suspected of engaging in verbal and digital sexual harassment via a WhatsApp group.
Chief of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police Sr. Comr. Budi Hermanto stated that the authorities have not yet received a formal police report concerning the case. "As of today, the Metro Jaya Police has not officially received a police report," Budi told reporters on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
However, the Metro Jaya Police has taken proactive steps to address the case. The Directorate of Women and Children's Protection and Anti-Human Trafficking (PPA and PPO) has coordinated directly with UI.
"We have coordinated with the victims' legal advisors to provide consultation assistance related to this case," Budi said.
Furthermore, he noted that the Metro Jaya Police is actively compiling evidence of the alleged harassment. "The PPA and PPO directorates have collected some evidence and produced reports regarding their coordination with the university," he added.
The case of sexual harassment at UI first surfaced after the social media account @sampahfhui on X posted excerpts of a conversation from a WhatsApp group on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The group, established in 2024 and comprising several students from the UI Faculty of Law, contained explicit sexual conversations targeting other students and lecturers.
The suspected perpetrators have been identified by their initials: MKA, MNA, RBS, KEP, MVR, NZF, MRARP, DSW, MT, AHFG, SPBP, IK, RM, PDP, MDP, and RFR. To date, the victims include 20 female students and seven lecturers.
UI has since suspended the academic status of the 16 students involved. Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and International Affairs at UI, Erwin Agustian Panigoro, stated that the sanctions were issued based on recommendations from the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Satgas PPKS UI).
"This recommendation is part of the ongoing steps to ensure an optimal, objective, and fair examination process," Erwin stated in a written release received on Wednesday night, April 15, 2026.
During their suspension, the suspected perpetrators are prohibited from participating in all learning activities, including lectures, academic guidance, and other matters related to academic affairs. Prior to this, UI had also conducted hearings with the suspects.
The agenda transitioned into an open forum and a demand for a formal apology, attended by hundreds of students at the Djokosoetono FH UI Auditorium on Monday night, April 13, 2026. The suspected perpetrators were present at the forum, as was the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Parulian Paidi Aritonang. Before examiners from Satgas PPKS UI, the sixteen students admitted to committing sexual harassment.
Ricky Juliansyah and Hendrik Yaputra contributed to this article.
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