Jokowi Comments on Delay in Issuing SP3 for Rismon After Admitting Diploma

Although President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia, has acknowledged the validity of his diploma and hosted Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar at his home in Solo, there has been no progress in resolving the legal matter through restorative justice (RJ) for the suspect. As of Thursday (2/4), the Letter of Order to Halt Investigation (SP3) for Rismon has not been issued by Polda Metro Jaya. Previously, Rismon submitted an RJ application to Polda Metro Jaya in mid-March after visiting Jokowi’s home and that of his eldest son, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. According to Jokowi, the issuance of the SP3 is the authority of the investigators, even though he has forgiven Rismon when he visited his home in Solo, Central Java, on 12 March. “Restorative justice is the authority of Polda Metro Jaya, the authority of the investigators,” Jokowi said when met at his residence in Sumber, Solo, on Friday (3/4). The lengthy RJ process for Rismon differs significantly from that of Eggi Sudjana and Damai Hari Lubis. Like Rismon, the two former officials of the Tim Pembela Ulama dan Aktivis (TPUA) also applied for RJ and apologised to Jokowi in Sumber. The difference is that the SP3 for Eggi and Damai Hari Lubis was issued about a week after their meeting with Jokowi. In response to this difference, Jokowi reiterated that he has no authority to approve Rismon’s RJ application. “Ask Polda Metro Jaya. Here (the treatment for them) is the same. The matter is just forgiving,” Jokowi said. The father of Gibran and PSI General Chairman Kaesang Pangarep emphasised that he has personally forgiven Rismon. However, he leaves the entire legal process related to the RJ to his legal counsel. “Rismon Sianipar came to me, apologised, and I forgave him. After that, it’s handled by my legal advisor,” Jokowi said.