Dr Tifa Denies Applying for RJ in Jokowi's Diploma Case: I Am a Researcher, I Will Not Apologise

Jakarta - Suspect in the case of allegations of President Joko Widodo’s fake diploma, Tifauzia Tyassuma, has denied rumours that she was involved in applying for restorative justice (RJ) as a resolution to the case.

The rumour that Dr Tifa applied for RJ emerged after her colleague, forensic expert Rismon Sianipar, apologised to Jokowi and applied for RJ over the fake diploma allegations.

However, the woman commonly known as Dr Tifa emphasised that she will not apologise to Jokowi because she believes the results of her research are legitimate scientific work.

“What has happened to me over the past year or so is the criminalisation of scientific work and my job as a researcher. Therefore, I do not need to apologise to anyone,” Tifa told reporters on Thursday (26/3/2026).

Tifa admitted that she was even persuaded to follow the same step as her fellow suspect, Rismon Sianipar, who applied for restorative justice.

According to her, the first persuasion occurred while reporting to Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on 29 January 2026. At that time, she was approached by two people with initials AA and FA.

“Come on, Doc, Dr Tifa here hasn’t gone to Solo for RJ yet. There are friends who have already done it,” Tifa quoted the persuasion.

“I never quit. I have never once backed down or taken a single step back,” she asserted.

Metro Jaya Police previously named eight people as suspects in the Jokowi fake diploma allegation case.

Metro Jaya Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri stated that the suspects are charged under Article 27A and Article 28 of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE), as well as Articles 310 and/or 311 of the Criminal Code, with a maximum prison sentence of six years.

In addition, the first cluster is also charged under Article 160 of the Criminal Code related to alleged incitement.

Meanwhile, the second cluster consists of Roy Suryo, Rismon Sianipar, and Tifauzia Tyassuma, who are charged with articles related to the manipulation of electronic documents.

In its developments, the suspect status of Eggi Sudjana and Damai Hari Lubis was revoked after a Termination of Investigation Order (SP3) was issued, following their pursuit of restorative justice.

Rismon Sianipar also followed that step. He admitted there was an error in his research regarding Jokowi’s diploma.