Dr Tifa Absent from Defamation Trial, Judge Postpones Hearing

Tifauzia Tyassuma, known as Dr Tifa, did not attend her trial at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday, 13 August 2026, facing charges of defamation and slander against Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), related to allegations of a fake diploma. The presiding judge decided to postpone the proceedings.

At the start of the session, the judge questioned the public prosecutor regarding the defendant’s presence. The judge stated that if the defendant was not present, a new summons would be issued for the next hearing, emphasising that in criminal cases, the defendant must be accompanied, not represented. The prosecutor responded by noting that in a previous session, the defendant had agreed to attend without a formal summons.

As Dr Tifa was absent, the judge ordered a new summons and adjourned the trial until 27 August 2026. The judge calculated that a hearing on 20 August would not provide sufficient notice if the summons was issued the following day. The prosecutor agreed to the new date and requested that the court impose a mandatory reporting obligation on the defendant to ensure her future cooperation.

This development follows a previous ruling on 23 July, where the panel of judges granted an exception filed by Dr Tifa’s legal team, declaring the original indictment null and void.