A Juridical Review of the Criminal Act of Fraud under the Pretense of CPNS Test Passing

Abstract

The selection of Civil Servant Candidates (CPNS) in Indonesia is highly competitive and often exploited by irresponsible actors offering fraudulent “guaranteed admission.” This study provides a juridical review of CPNS-related fraud using a normative legal method, analyzing primary sources such as the Indonesian Penal Code (Article 378 KUHP and Article 492 of the new Criminal Code), the Anti-Corruption Law, the State Civil Apparatus Law, and the Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) Law. Secondary sources, including legal literature and judicial decisions, support the analysis. Findings show that fraud schemes typically involve false identities, forged documents, and deceptive promises of CPNS admission in exchange for money. Such practices meet the elements of criminal fraud and may result in imprisonment, fines, or administrative sanctions for officials. The study concludes that CPNS fraud undermines public trust and calls for stronger enforcement, public awareness, and transparent recruitment systems.