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

Former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has confirmed he will attend the trial of the alleged defamation and slander case regarding accusations of a fake diploma involving defendant Tifauzia Tyassuma, also known as Dr Tifa. Jokowi stressed that he would appear if requested directly by the panel of judges at the East Jakarta District Court. “We must respect the existing legal process and legal mechanisms,” Jokowi told reporters on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. “If I am invited by the honourable panel of judges to attend the trial, I will attend,” he explained. It was previously reported that public prosecutors indicted Dr Tifa for criminal defamation and slander related to her statements about the authenticity of the diploma of the seventh Indonesian president. This was conveyed 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, a witness named Syarif Muhammad showed Jokowi three social media posts on X that attacked his honour and reputation, essentially accusing Jokowi of having a fake undergraduate degree. One of the three posts was made by Dr Tifa. After seeing the three posts, Jokowi asked Syarif to collect social media posts that attacked his honour and reputation and accused him of having a fake undergraduate degree. “While collecting these posts, on 14 April, the legal team of witness Jokowi held a press conference essentially stating that the accusations regarding witness Jokowi’s undergraduate diploma were untrue and highly misleading. Witness Jokowi’s undergraduate diploma exists, is genuine, and has been clearly confirmed by Gadjah Mada University and the relevant authorities. The legal team also reminded the public not to continue spreading accusations and false news claiming that witness Jokowi’s undergraduate diploma is fake,” the prosecutor stated. Subsequently, in April-May 2025, witness Syarif handed over to Jokowi 28 posts on various social media platforms that attacked his honour and reputation by accusing him of having a fake diploma.