Jokowi on Fake Diploma Defamation Trial: If Invited, I Will Attend

Jakarta, VIVA – The 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokui), has confirmed that he will personally attend the trial regarding alleged defamation and slander related to accusations of a fake diploma, which has named Tifauzia Tyassuma, also known as Dr Tifa, as the defendant.

Jokowi emphasised that he will attend if directly requested by the Panel of Judges at the East Jakarta District Court. “We must respect the existing legal process and the legal mechanisms in place,” Jokowi told reporters, as quoted on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.

“If I am invited by Your Honours, the Panel of Judges, to attend the court proceedings, then I will attend,” he explained.

It was previously reported that the Public Prosecutor (JPU) has indicted Tifauzia Tyassuma, or Dr Tifa, for the criminal acts of slander and defamation regarding her statements concerning the authenticity of the undergraduate diploma of the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.

This was stated by the Prosecutor during Dr Tifa’s first hearing at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday, 2 July 2026.

The Prosecutor explained that in March 2025, witness Syarif Muhammad showed Jokowi three posts on the social media platform X that attacked the honour and reputation of Jokowi, essentially accusing him of possessing a fake undergraduate diploma. One of these three posts was from Dr Tifa.

After viewing these three posts, Jokowi requested Syarif to collect social media posts that attacked his honour and reputation and accused him of having a fake undergraduate diploma.

“While collecting these posts, on 14 April, the legal team for the witness, Jokowi, held a press conference which essentially stated that the allegations regarding the witness’s undergraduate diploma were untrue and highly misleading. The witness’s undergraduate diploma exists, is authentic, and has been clearly confirmed by Gadjah Mada University and the relevant authorities. The legal team also warned the public not to further spread accusations and fake news claiming the witness’s undergraduate diploma is fake,” the Prosecutor said.

Subsequently, between April and May 2025, witness Syarif submitted 28 posts from various social media platforms to Jokowi that attacked his honour and reputation by accusing him of having a fake diploma.