4 Facts About the Arrest of Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa: Unbathed to PhD Exam

Polda Metro Jaya investigators arrested two suspects in the case of alleged fake diploma accusations against Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Roy Suryo and Tifauziah Tyassuma alias Dr Tifa, at different locations on Friday (19/6) morning. The arrests drew protests from Roy and Tifa’s legal counsel. Meanwhile, the police also disclosed the reasons for arresting both individuals.

Roy’s legal team, represented by Ahmad Khozinudin, said their client was arrested at his residence in Bintaro, South Tangerang. "Our client, Mr Roy Suryo, was arrested at his residence in Bintaro, Tangerang while he was with his family in a private room," Ahmad said. He stated that investigators claiming to be from Polda Metro Jaya forced their way into the room despite being barred by Roy’s wife. "His wife had asked them not to enter, to wait in the living room, but they forced their way into the bedroom to find our client," he said. He added that the police also refused to wait for the legal team to arrive first. Ahmad described the action as uncivilised amid the new Criminal Code. "Even the request from our client and his wife to wait for legal counsel to arrive during the arrest process was ignored, and they threatened to handcuff him if he did not comply. So it was an uncivilised act in the midst of the Criminal Code and the newly implemented Criminal Code," he said.

Another of Roy’s lawyers, Refly Harun, said Roy did not have time to make many preparations before being taken to Polda Metro Jaya. "Mr Roy told me when I met him at the Sub-Directorate of State Security, in the Sub-Directorate of State Security room, he said he didn’t have time for anything, he was lucky to still have time for dawn prayers. So he hadn’t bathed, hadn’t dressed properly, and then was forced to be taken to Polda Metro," he said.

One of Dr Tifa’s legal team members, Azis Yanuar, said his client was arrested at her apartment on Friday morning around 06.47 WIB. "Dr Tifa’s Legal Counsel, who are members of the Dr Tifa Defence Team (TPDT), confirmed with the investigator handling Dr Tifa’s case that the police action carried out this morning was an arrest," Azis said. Azis stated that at the time of the arrest, his client was about to take her dissertation exam or S3 programme exam at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia. After being arrested, Dr Tifa was immediately taken to Polda Metro Jaya. Azis said that despite being arrested, Dr Tifa still took her dissertation exam online. He shared a photo of Dr Tifa sitting in a room he said was within the Polda Metro Jaya premises. In the photo, Dr Tifa is opening a laptop which Azis said she was using to take her dissertation exam.

Polda Metro Jaya Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, explained that the arrests of both individuals were not standalone actions but a continuation of the investigation process. According to him, Roy and Dr Tifa were arrested because their case files had been declared complete, or P21, by the prosecutor’s office. "The evidence has been assessed as complete, meeting the requirements, and every stage was carried out in accordance with the provisions of criminal procedure law, upholding the principle of equality before the law," he said. Director of General Criminal Investigation at Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Iman Imanuddin, explained that the arrests were part of the process of handing over or transferring the suspects and evidence from the Ditreskrimum Polda Metro Jaya investigators to the DKI Jakarta High Prosecutor’s Office. "Furthermore, to ensure the presence and whereabouts of the suspects during this transfer process of suspects and evidence runs smoothly, investigators must ensure the whereabouts and presence of the suspects," Iman said.

Jokowi also spoke out regarding the arrest of the two suspects. He said he was ready to follow the ongoing legal process. "We will follow the existing legal process until later in the court hearing. Because later the court will decide," Jokowi said when met at his residence in Sumber on Friday (19/6) afternoon. He also admitted he was ready to attend the trial proceedings in person if requested by the judge. Jokowi firmly stated he remains committed to fulfilling that promise. "Yes, I will attend. I will attend as I have already said," he said. Furthermore, Jokowi said his diploma is currently still in police possession as evidence in the case. "Yes. Still at Polda," he said.