We must be willing to take risks if we want to do something good for this nation." Yohanes Surya said in an interview with Tempo in May 2013, as he explained how the Surya University was funded. Four years later, his decision to take risks have led to potential legal consequences.

The university he founded is now plagued with problems, including salaries owed to lecturers, a great number of outstanding non-collateral student loans (KTA), and stru