Indonesian university dismisses lecturer after viral video shows spitting at supermarket cashier

A university in Indonesia has dismissed a lecturer after he was filmed spitting on a supermarket cashier during an argument over a queue in Makassar, South Sulawesi, in an incident that went viral on social media late last week.

Universitas Islam Makassar (UIM) said on Monday it had dismissed Amal Said, who served as an assistant lecturer, following a disciplinary review that found he had violated the university’s code of ethics and staff regulations.

The decision was announced by UIM Rector Muammar Bakry during a press conference on campus on Monday, 29 December.

“Based on the decision of UIM’s Disciplinary Commission, the lecturer was found to have violated the lecturers’ code of ethics and employment regulations within the campus,” Muammar said.

He added that Amal Said had been serving at UIM as a seconded lecturer and would be returned to the Higher Education Service Institute (LLDikti) Region IX.

“[We have] dismissed the individual as a UIM lecturer and returned him to LLDikti Region IX as a state lecturer,” Muammar said.

Returned to higher education authority

Muammar confirmed that Amal Said is a civil servant lecturer under LLDikti Region IX who had been seconded to UIM.

LLDikti Region IX head Andi Lukman said the institution had received Amal Said back and would conduct its own ethics examination.

“We have received him. He is a civil servant lecturer, and we will carry out guidance and an ethics review,” Lukman told local media, adding that the examination was scheduled to take place on 30 December.

Incident at supermarket

The incident took place at a supermarket on Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan in Makassar’s Tamalanrea district on 24 December at around 11:30 a.m. local time.

According to the cashier, identified by the initial N, the man suddenly cut in front of other customers while she was serving another shopper.

“At that time, I was in the middle of a transaction. I saw the man in front looking restless and trying to enter the queue,” N told local media.

When the cashier reminded him to queue from the back, the man became angry and threw his shopping basket, she said.

“I said, ‘There is a queue behind, sir. Please queue from the back.’ Before I even finished speaking, he spat on me,” she said, adding that the spit hit her face, headscarf and clothes.

Cashier reports case to police

After the incident, the cashier reported the matter to Tamalanrea police, citing objections from her family.

Tamalanrea police criminal investigations unit head Iptu Sangkala confirmed that a report had been filed and that the case was under investigation.

“Yes, the case exists and is being handled,” he said.

University apology

UIM issued an apology to the cashier, saying the lecturer’s actions did not reflect the institution’s values.

“We, on behalf of Universitas Islam Makassar, apologise to the victim for an act of harassment that clearly goes against humanitarian values,” Muammar said.

He added that the university hoped the incident would serve as a lesson for all parties, particularly the lecturer involved.

“As an educational institution that upholds religious values, humanity and local wisdom, UIM has taken firm action,” he said.

Lecturer acknowledges incident

Amal Said later acknowledged the incident, saying his reaction was driven by emotion.

“I realise that what I did was wrong. But it was a human reaction when someone is provoked and reacts,” he was quoted as saying.

He claimed that he did not intend to spit directly at the cashier’s face and said the saliva landed on her clothing.