Jokowi's Camp Responds to Roy Suryo's Demand to Halt Diploma Case

Jokowi’s camp has spoken out regarding Roy Suryo’s demand for the issuance of a letter to halt the investigation (SP3) in the defamation case related to the diploma issue. Through his legal representative, Rivai Kusumanegara, Jokowi hopes that the case will soon be brought to court. This is not only to fully clarify the matter but also to restore his client’s reputation. “From Mr Jokowi’s side, we actually hope that this case will proceed to trial as soon as possible so that it can be concluded. The diploma issue can be examined through a legitimate forum, and we hope for a result that has legal force and can restore Mr Jokowi’s dignity and honour,” Rivai said in an interview on CNN Indonesia’s Head to Head programme on Wednesday (6/5). He hopes that the trial of Jokowi’s diploma case can also clear the names of several parties that have been implicated so far, such as UGM, the General Elections Commission (KPU), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. “Everyone who has seemingly been accused of something can be cleared,” he said. Rivai refuted Roy Suryo’s claim that police investigators had violated procedures in returning the case file to the prosecutor’s office. According to him, since the diploma case began before the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) came into effect, the legal process refers to the old KUHAP. That provision, Rivai said, refers to Article 361 of the new KUHAP, which states, “At the time this law comes into force, criminal cases that are in the process of investigation or prosecution shall be completed under Law No. 8 of 1981 [old KUHAP].” Referring to the old KUHAP, the reasons for halting the legal process are limited and do not include the reason of returning the case file from the police to the prosecutor’s office (P19) within 14 days. This means, he said, that the legal process against the suspects in the case will continue. “This means that the 14-day issue returns to the investigation stage. For example, if there are up to 30 leads, is it possible to complete them in two weeks?” Rivai said. Meanwhile, Roy Suryo’s legal representative, Refli Harun, explained that the 14-day limit for returning the P19 case file is a clear norm that cannot be debated. Thus, if counted from 26 January when the file was returned to the police investigators, the process has now exceeded three months. “So if we say 14 days, it’s 14 days. Why set a time limit? To ensure legal certainty, so that the suspects are not left in limbo,” he said. Because, Refli said, his client has so far reported 24 times due to the unclear and convoluted legal process. Meanwhile, Roy views the legal process against him and the other four remaining suspects in the case as convoluted. However, he emphasised that he is not seeking restorative justice. “That’s why the diploma must be proven elsewhere, for example, there was one in Solo just yesterday, which is now being sued again,” Roy said. In this case, out of a total of eight suspects, three have applied for RJ and it has been issued. They are Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar, Eggi Sudjana, and Damai Hari Lubis. Meanwhile, the legal process against the remaining five continues. Besides Roy, they are Kurnia Triyuni, Rizal Fadilah, Rustam Effendi, and Tifauziah Tiasuma or dr Tifa.