Lawyer Guarantees Jokowi Will Attend Roy Suryo-Tifa Trial During Evidence Phase

The lawyer for Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Yakup Hasibuan, has stated that his client will appear directly in the courtroom during the evidence presentation phase of the defamation case involving defendants Tifauzia Tyassuma, also known as Dr Tifa, and Roy Suryo. Yakup explained that his client wishes to present authentic evidence in the form of educational diploma documents, which have been the subject of the lawsuit. “Mr Jokowi wants to attend the trial later to bring his primary school, junior high school diplomas, and the diplomas that have been confiscated as evidence, namely senior high school and Gadjah Mada University,” Yakup said after meeting Jokowi at the private residence of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s father in Banjarsari, Solo, on Monday (13/7). Although he has expressed readiness to attend, Yakup stated that the exact timing of Jokowi’s presence will depend on the schedule set by the panel of judges and the public prosecutor. Yakup mentioned that Jokowi will attend the evidence presentation phase, which is a crucial stage in the trial. “Of course, it will be during the evidence presentation agenda. We will leave it to the panel whether to invite Mr Jokowi at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the evidence phase,” Yakup elaborated. According to Yakup, Jokowi’s decision to appear directly in court is a form of respect for the legal process in Indonesia. He emphasised that Jokowi strongly hopes the case can be resolved quickly to establish clear legal certainty. “To this day, Mr Jokowi remains firm that he will attend. The hope is that this case will proceed quickly to the evidence phase so that he can obtain legal certainty and the case can be concluded soon,” he said. Responding to Roy Suryo’s pre-trial motion, Yakup said Jokowi respects the decision. He stressed that Jokowi’s main concern is for the diploma issue to be resolved swiftly. “We also updated him earlier that this is Mr Roy’s second pre-trial. There may be a third and so on, but Mr Jokowi certainly respects the ongoing process,” he explained. “His main incentive is for this case to be tried quickly to the evidence phase, so he can get legal certainty and the case can be concluded, so there is an end to this matter,” he added. Previously, the South Jakarta District Court judge partially granted Roy Suryo’s pre-trial motion regarding the search, arrest, and detention. The judge stated that the ruling does not affect the main case. Roy Suryo then filed a pre-trial motion regarding his suspect status. The pre-trial hearing was held today at the South Jakarta District Court. Police have completed the investigation into Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa. Both cases have been transferred to the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office while awaiting the start of the trial. The prosecutor’s office subsequently decided not to detain Roy and Tifa. The prosecutor has transferred the case files to the East Jakarta District Court. Tifa has already undergone her first trial, while Roy’s first trial is still pending the pre-trial process.