Refly Harun Protests Arrest of Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa

Legal counsel for Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa, Refly Harun, has protested the actions of investigators from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s General Criminal Investigation Directorate who arrested and detained his two clients. He described the police action as unprofessional in relation to the case concerning the alleged fake diploma of Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

“What the investigators did, in my opinion, was very unprofessional, and we protest strongly,” Refly stated at Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters on Friday (19/6).

He explained that detention is reasonable in cases such as murder or corruption. However, he said, the case facing Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa is still at the material evidence stage. “What if the diploma is indeed fake? Moreover, the fake diploma hunting team has already reported several parties suspected of being involved in its creation?” he elaborated.

He expressed confidence that his clients are innocent. “I am 99.9 percent certain the diploma is fake,” Refly declared.

Refly revealed that Dr Tifa was arrested at 7 a.m., just before she was due to take her dissertation exam or academic results seminar. “In fact, she was already preparing to go to a location for that exam,” Refly disclosed.

Meanwhile, the arrest of Roy Suryo was carried out in the early hours of Thursday (19/6) after he had finished activities in Bandung, West Java. Roy Suryo was arrested suddenly after completing his dawn prayers. “Mas Roy said he didn’t have time for anything, he was fortunate to have at least performed his dawn prayers. So, he hadn’t showered, wasn’t properly dressed, and was then taken to Polda Metro,” he said.

Refly Harun added that Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa were taken to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters without signing an arrest warrant.