TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A clip has been circulating on social media, where members of the Bung Karno University Student Executive Board (BEM UBK) confessed to receiving a bribe, days after a series of student protests broke out in Jakarta.
The university swiftly deactivated their status as students, including that of the Law Faculty BEM, Muhammad Abdi Maludin.
According to the university's Vice Rector III, Daniel Panda, the decision was made after they received direct admission from Abdi about the Rp20 million bribe. Based on Abdi's confession, the bribe money was delivered by a law faculty alumnus through the police. The alumnus requested that the Student Executive Board not demonstrate in the Presidential Palace area.
The students were asked to move the protest to the parliament complex, a request they rejected—they still held a student protest near the Horse Statue area. Nevertheless, the bribe money was still accepted. "It was delivered in the early hours," he said during a press conference in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
In a protest dubbed "Redefining Indonesia," representatives of BEM UBK later received an invitation for a closed-door meeting with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
VP Gibran Asked to Clarify the Flow of Funds
The chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Deddy Sitorus, asked VP Gibran to clarify the alleged bribery received by members of the student board, including the flow of money.
The member of House Commission II also urged Gibran to explain about his audience with the student representatives at the Vice Presidential Palace.
"It is impossible that he does not know. But he needs to speak up," Deddy said at the DPR Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Vice Presidential Special Staff Tina Talisa has yet to respond to the confirmation request sent by Tempo via WhatsApp on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Where Does Protest Funding Come?
Meanwhile, a researcher from the Indonesia Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA)—an organization that oversees the state budgeting process—Siska Barimbing explained that the funding for demonstrations is usually sourced from fundraising by the action's organizers, such as civil alliances or organizations.
Protest funding, she said, never comes from the state budget or regional budget.
Budget transparency regarding a protest depends on the mechanism agreed by the organizers, since it is not a public finance. Thus, the protest funding must be openly accountable within the protest organizers' bodies.
"Public budget has a clear rule and allocation. [However], there is no nomenclature for protest funding," said Siska on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Siska believed state institutions that are suspected of funding the protests must be questioned to clarify the matter.
Andi Adam contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: UBK Says Student Leaders Received Rp20 Million Bribe Via Police
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Govt Responds to Allegations of Involvement in Pro-MBG Rallies
2 jam lalu
The Government Communication Agency states that people have the right to express their opinions, whether they are in favor of or criticizing the MBG.
Prabowo Claims He Knows Who Funds Demonstrations Against Him
6 jam lalu
Prabowo suggested that the individuals behind the alleged funding were people opposed to him.
UBK Says Student Leaders Received Rp20 Million Bribe Via Police
1 hari lalu
BEM UBK was allegedly offered Rp20 million if it agreed to relocate the protest to the parliamentary complex.
Today's Top 3 News: Speculation Over Trump's Number 22, Jakarta Protest
2 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
MBG Supporters Rally at Jakarta's Patung Kuda Monument
2 hari lalu
Jakarta Community Alliance holds a protest in support of the MBG project, refuting claims that it is a response to the student anti-MBG demonstration.
Jakarta Braces for Three Protests Across the City Today
2 hari lalu
Three different groups are set to hold protests in Jakarta on Monday, June 22, 2026. Each group has different demands.
Indonesian Islamic Student Group to Hold Anti-Government Protest Today
2 hari lalu
The Islamic Student Movement of Indonesia (PB PMII) will hold a protest today to demand five points, one of which is Prabowo's cabinet reshuffle.
What Was Achieved at the DPR-Student Meeting During Friday's Protest?
4 hari lalu
House leaders (DPR) met with student representatives following a protest at the parliament complex on Friday, June 19.
DPR Protest: BGN Chief, Minister Bahlil Phoned to Hear Student Demands
4 hari lalu
Sufmi Dasco Ahmad contacted Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia and BGN chief Nanik S. Deyang while receiving an audience with student protesters.
Traffic Diverted as Student Protesters Crowd DPR Building
5 hari lalu
A group of students held a protest at the DPR Building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Friday, June 19, 2026.
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5414491/original/012054700_1763287155-530668458_18471777553074306_380593477510268437_n__1_.jpg)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg):watermark(kly-media-production/assets/images/watermarks/bola/watermark-color-landscape-new.png,1125,20,0)/kly-media-production/medias/5495647/original/074499000_1770385031-barba.jpeg)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg):watermark(kly-media-production/assets/images/watermarks/bola/watermark-color-landscape-new.png,1125,20,0)/kly-media-production/medias/5469567/original/092858600_1768130667-4.jpg)