Jokowi Questions Further Diploma Tests After Presenting Originals in Court
Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo questioned why his academic diplomas needed further testing after presenting the originals to judges in East Jakarta on November 5, 2026. The documents are central to defamation proceedings over allegations that his university degree is fake.
Jokowi cites earlier forensic examination
"Why test them again? Why do they need to be tested again, and what else needs testing?" Jokowi said after Thursday's proceedings. He said the Indonesian National Police's Forensic Laboratory had already examined the documents.
Jokowi said he had testified and handed the judges his original certificates from elementary school, junior high school, senior high school and university, including his bachelor's degree. Before giving the documents to the panel, he turned to display them to courtroom visitors, including defendant Roy Suryo and journalists, then returned to his seat.
His testimony also traced his education in Surakarta, Central Java, where he attended State Elementary School No. 111, State Junior High School 1 and State Senior High School 6. He later pursued his bachelor's degree at Gadjah Mada University's Faculty of Forestry in Yogyakarta.
Two trials and a large security deployment
ANTARA News reported that Jokowi testified in separate trials that day: Suryo's case in the morning and the case against Tifauzia Tyassuma in the afternoon. Before giving evidence, he agreed to take the oath required of witnesses according to Islamic religious procedures. Judge Christina Endarwati presided over the hearing.
The day's proceedings lasted from 9 a.m. until about 4:30 p.m. local time. Jokowi said he was pleased they had gone smoothly. His two younger children, Kahiyang Ayu and Kaesang Pangarep, accompanied him, according to ANTARA News.
East Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Comr. Alfian Nurrizal said 6,770 personnel from a joint force were assigned to secure the hearing. The deployment included plainclothes officers and covered three security rings: inside the courtroom, around the courthouse and outside the building.
Charges against Suryo and Tyassuma
Suryo and Tyassuma were named suspects in November 2025, according to ANTARA News. Police arrested them on June 19 and released them shortly afterward. Tempo.co reported that the indictment against Roy Suryo Notodiprojo and Tifauzia Tyassuma was read at the East Jakarta District Court on September 17, 2026.
According to the indictment, as reported by ANTARA News, Suryo is charged under Article 433(1) in conjunction with Article 441(1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code. He also faces subsidiary charges under Article 35 in conjunction with Article 51(1) of the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Law.
Tyassuma's primary charge is under Article 434(1) in conjunction with Article 441(1) of the same Criminal Code.