Palembang, KOTABARI.COM – After serving his sentence at the Class I Penitentiary in Palembang for a case of sexual harassment involving lewd chats with a female student from Sriwijaya University (Unsri), Reza Ghasarma has now been released. However, his release has sparked significant questions regarding his status as a lecturer.
According to information from criminologist and academician at Muhammadiyah University Palembang, Dr. Martini Idris, based on Article 87 paragraph 2 of the Civil Servant Law, a lecturer who has served a sentence of more than three months that is legally binding is no longer allowed to teach. “When a lecturer is involved in legal issues and the sentence has been pronounced by a panel of judges, then he should be disrespectfully deactivated or dismissed from his position as an educator,” Martini said.
However, clarity regarding Reza’s status must be directly addressed by Unsri, where he previously worked as a lecturer. “If he indeed resumes teaching, it needs to be transparently explained to the public and the campus community. We await an official statement from Unsri,” he added.
Professor Abdullah Idi, a social and education observer, emphasized that a lecturer who has served a sentence should conduct self-evaluation. “Self-evaluation is crucial, and the reasons for his return to teaching need to be conveyed. If indeed he returns to teaching, the regulations and rules regarding this matter also need to be clearly explained,” he stated.
Meanwhile, ethically and professionally, many argue that a lecturer who has been involved in legal cases, especially serious ones like sexual harassment, is unfit to return to teaching. Clarity regarding Reza’s status and whether he has resumed active duty as a lecturer remains a subject of debate, awaiting official clarification from the authorities and the university.