Jokowi's Response to Lawsuit over His Diploma by UGM Alumnus
President Joko Widodo’s legal counsel, YB Irpan, has revealed his client’s stance regarding a lawsuit over his diploma, filed by a lawyer from Klaten who is also an alumnus of the UGM Faculty of Law, Sigit Pratomo.
Irpan stated that Jokowi is aware of the lawsuit and has appointed YB Irpan as his legal representative. Jokowi has reacted to the lawsuit with composure.
“Mr Jokowi’s response to this matter is calm,” said Irpan to journalists at the Solo District Court on Tuesday (5/5).
Nevertheless, he respects the lawsuit filed by the plaintiff. This is because the content of the lawsuit does not contain any words or sentences that attack Jokowi’s honour.
“In the formulation of the lawsuit, it appears polite. So, there is no claim in the lawsuit that attacks Mr Jokowi’s personal honour, unlike previous lawsuits. We are also responding in a humane tone and attitude,” explained Irpan.
“Even the plaintiff acknowledges that Mr Jokowi is an alumnus of the UGM Faculty of Forestry,” he added.
Sigit is suing Jokowi for unlawful acts, under case number 101/Pdt.G/2026/PN Skt. The co-defendants in the case are Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) as co-defendant 1, and the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) as co-defendant 2.
In the lawsuit, Jokowi is deemed to have acted unlawfully because he has never attended the hearings against him, nor shown his original diploma to the public or in court.
Irpan explained that Jokowi’s reluctance to show his original diploma publicly or in court is considered unlawful, but his side disagrees. This is because there is no court decision or order requiring it.
“In the decisions that have been examined and tried so far, whether filed by Bambang Tri at the Central Jakarta District Court, or by Muhammad Taufiq, Top Taufan, and Bangun Sutoto, there is absolutely no court ruling that convicts or orders Mr Jokowi to show his UGM Faculty of Forestry diploma to the public; that does not exist,” said Irpan to journalists at the Solo District Court on Tuesday (5/5).
He assessed that this lawsuit does not need to be proven, as it is unfounded. This is because there is indeed no legal basis for Jokowi to show his diploma.
The first hearing took place today with the agenda of summoning the parties. The hearing was presided over by the Panel of Judges Bayu Soho Rahardjo, along with two Member Judges Dian Erdianto and Ledis Meriana Bakara.
At the first hearing, the principals did not attend and were represented by their legal counsel. However, co-defendant 2 did not attend without explanation. The Panel of Judges will summon co-defendant 2 again for the next hearing agenda.
“Since this is the first summons, we will try to summon again specifically the party that did not attend today’s hearing. Namely co-defendant 2 from the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Police,” said the Chief Judge of the Panel, Bayu Soho Rahardjo, during the hearing at the Solo District Court on Tuesday (5/5).
The hearing was adjourned and will resume on Tuesday (19/5). He hopes that all parties can attend the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the plaintiff’s legal counsel Dekka Ajeng Maharasri said that they do not yet know whether Jokowi’s diploma is authentic or not. Their side only acknowledges that Jokowi is a UGM alumnus.
“In principle, our lawsuit does not acknowledge Mr Jokowi’s diploma as authentic, but wants Mr Jokowi to attend the hearing and show the diploma. Regarding whether Mr Jokowi’s diploma is authentic or not, the person concerned knows, and that’s why we position the co-defendants Polda Metro Jaya and UGM to help Mr Jokowi show the diploma at the Solo District Court,” said Ajeng.
“The plaintiff only acknowledges the defendant as an alumnus and graduate,” she added.