Dr Tifa Claims Only Examined Digital Objects, Not Jokowi's Original Diploma
Dr Tifaueral Tyassuma, popularly known as Dr Tifa, has asserted that she has never conducted any research or examination of the physical diploma document belonging to the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. This statement was made following the reading of the second resistance note during the trial for alleged defamation and violations of the ITE Law at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday (17/9).
Dr Tifa explained that the object she has been studying is merely a “digital object” uploaded by another individual named Dian Sandi. She emphasised the fundamental difference between an original physical document and the digital images circulating on social media.
“Our object of study is the digital object uploaded by Dian Sandi. Therefore, we have not conducted any examination or research whatsoever on a document recognised as Jokowi’s diploma,” Dr Tifa stated at the East Jakarta District Court.
Based on the Examination Report (BAP) of Dian Sandi, Dr Tifa noted that the image in question was not an original photograph taken directly by the uploader. Dian Sandi was found to have re-uploaded content from another user whose account is now inactive.
Due to this distinction in the object of study, Dr Tifa believes that the Public Prosecutor’s indictment, using Articles 32 and 35 of the ITE Law, is misdirected. She described the indictment as being in the “wrong room,” as she maintains she never manipulated any document recognised as an official state diploma.
“If this digital object contains something that looks like a diploma, we say this is fake. Therefore, our study concludes that this item (the digital object) is fake, not that Jokowi’s diploma is fake,” she asserted.
During the proceedings, Dr Tifa also challenged the party representing Joko Widodo to present the original diploma to the public to end the controversy. She also questioned the validity of the forensic laboratory (Puslabfor) examination results if the object tested was not the same digital object she had studied.
The case stems from a post by Dr Tifa on 26 March 2025, questioning the authenticity of Joko Widodo’s undergraduate diploma. The post led to legal reports involving charges of defamation and violations regarding the transmission of electronic information.