Jokowi to Testify at Roy Suryo Trial Next Week
Prosecutors will call Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), to testify in the trial of Raden Mas Tumenggung Roy Suryo Notodiprojo, known as Roy Suryo, who is charged with alleged slander and defamation. Jokowi’s aide, Syarif Muhammad Fitriansyah, will also be called.
“Your Honour, with your permission, we will summon witnesses named Ir H Joko Widodo and Syarif Muhammad Fitriansyah,” a prosecutor told the East Jakarta District Court on Wednesday (28 October 2026).
The prosecutors will summon Jokowi and Syarif to appear at the hearing next Thursday (5 November). A trial involving another defendant, Tifauzia Tyassuma, also known as Dr Tifa, is scheduled for the same day.
“We request that the hearing be held on the same day as Tifa’s. So we ask for the postponement until Thursday, 5 November 2026, in view of the scheduled proceedings, Your Honour,” the prosecutor said.
After the hearing, Roy Suryo said that he had been waiting for Jokowi to appear in court.
“To the panel of judges, especially the respected presiding judge, at the end of today’s hearing you have reached, well, a conclusion or agreement that will, God willing, be eagerly awaited by all Indonesians. We have repeatedly urged that two things be presented: first, the diploma said to be authentic; and second, the person listed as witness number one, namely Joko Widodo,” Roy Suryo said after the hearing at the East Jakarta District Court on Wednesday (28 October 2026).
Contacted separately, Syarif said that he and Jokowi would comply with the prosecutors’ summons.
“God willing, we will attend,” Syarif said when asked to confirm.
Roy Suryo has been charged with slander and defamation against Jokowi. Prosecutors said he disseminated false information about Jokowi’s diploma.
Roy is charged under Article 433(1) in conjunction with Article 441(1) of Law No. 1/2023 on the Criminal Code, with alternative charges under Article 35 in conjunction with Article 51(1) of Law No. 11/2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE), as amended by Law No. 1/2026 on Criminal Penalty Adjustments, and Article 32 in conjunction with Article 48(1) of the ITE Law, as amended by Law No. 1/2026.