Former students sue abusive Indonesian principal, later marry

A group of senior students at a Jakarta high school spent the better part of five years compiling documentation of alleged financial mismanagement and disciplinary abuses by their principal, according to court filings and statements from the school’s parent‑teacher association. The students, working with a local nonprofit that assists youth in civic engagement, gathered receipts, internal memos and witness testimonies, which were submitted to the regional education authority in early 2025. An independent audit subsequently confirmed irregularities in the school’s budgeting process, prompting the Ministry of Education to place the principal on administrative leave pending a formal investigation.

During the prolonged inquiry, two of the students involved in the evidence‑gathering effort disclosed that they had developed a romantic relationship, a detail reported by the school’s counseling office but not directly related to the misconduct case. The ministry’s investigation continues, and the principal faces potential disciplinary action, while the students have been commended for their perseverance and for maintaining academic performance amid the personal developments.