CLS Plaintiffs Request Jokowi Be Summoned to Court to Present Diploma
The plaintiffs in case number 211/Pdt.G/2025/PN Skt, a Citizen Lawsuit (CLS) concerning the diploma of Indonesia’s seventh president Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Solo District Court, have asked the panel of judges to issue an order compelling the defendant to appear in person at the hearing.
The plaintiffs also requested that Jokowi present his diploma at the next court session.
Ahmad Wirawan Adnan, one of the plaintiffs’ legal counsel, said the request was based on Jokowi’s own promise made in several media interviews, and that his team was merely holding him to that commitment.
“We respect Mr Jokowi’s stated wish to prove matters in court, and his declaration that he would only attend if requested by a judge. Therefore, we have submitted a petition to the judge to have Mr Jokowi appear here to prove whether his diploma is genuine or not,” Adnan told reporters at the Solo District Court on Wednesday (18 February).
Throughout the CLS proceedings, the plaintiffs have maintained their belief that Jokowi’s diploma is forged. This is based on evidence presented during the trial, including testimony from two expert witnesses called on that day — digital forensics experts Roy Suryo and Rismon.
Another member of the plaintiffs’ legal team, Muhammad Taufiq, said that for next week’s hearing, his side would present two experts — a constitutional law specialist and a CLS specialist. Meanwhile, the defendants’ side has indicated it will not call any further witnesses.
“We will ask the panel of judges to summon Mr Jokowi. If he still does not appear, it clearly proves that our lawsuit should be granted in full. Because they have not provided proof, and we consider their witnesses did not provide factual support,” said Taufiq.
“If Mr Jokowi refuses to show his diploma, refuses to attend — we can be certain he does not have a diploma,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jokowi’s legal counsel, YB Irpan, described the plaintiffs’ request to summon Jokowi to court to display his diploma as excessive. He argued it bore no relevance to either the posita or petitum of the lawsuit.
“If I examine the posita and petitum of the lawsuit, there is no posita or petitum requesting that Mr Jokowi be ordered to appear in court to display his diploma,” said Irpan.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Presiding Judge Achmad Satibi said the panel would consider the plaintiffs’ petition to summon Jokowi to court.
“We will consider it first,” said Achmad Satibi.
“The next hearing is on Tuesday, 24 February 2026 at 10:00 WIB,” he added.
At next week’s session, defendant 1 will submit additional documentary evidence, whilst the plaintiffs will present two expert witnesses in constitutional law and citizen lawsuits.