Rismon Sianipar Now Claims Jokowi and Gibran's Degrees Are Authentic, Details His Findings

Digital forensics researcher and expert Rismon Sianipar has stated that the degrees of Indonesia’s seventh President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka are authentic. Sianipar said he would explain his findings through a book he is currently writing.

According to detikNews citing Antara on Friday, 13 March 2026, Sianipar previously accused Jokowi and Gibran of holding fraudulent degrees through two books titled “Jokowi’s White Paper” and “Gibran End Game.” He is now refuting his own books based on further research.

Sianipar made this statement after meeting Gibran at the Vice President’s Palace in Jakarta. He also delivered a direct apology to Gibran.

“Yes, they are authentic. Why? Based on my research, that’s why I say ‘truth hurts.’ The truth is painful. But what I feel is even more painful if I don’t reveal it and am not more honest,” Sianipar said.

Sianipar stated he had conducted further research over the past three months. He claimed to have discovered evidence of the authenticity of Jokowi’s degree, namely the presence of watermarks and embossing and other features in the document that show consistency when compared with photographs of degrees uploaded by Dian Sandi Utama.

Sianipar claimed to have discovered traces of stamps not visible in photographs of the degrees by inputting variables of lighting geometry, light intensity, and conclusions about lens type in his latest research reconstruction.

“I am presenting three main points: embossing is present in the lower left corner, watermarks are present, and these features are consistent with what was uploaded by Dian Sandi Utama. Don’t say they don’t exist, it saddens me,” Sianipar said.

To Gibran, Sianipar said he would prepare an antithetical book to “Jokowi’s White Paper” and “Gibran End Game.” He claimed the preparation of this book would take at least six months.

“I indeed told Mr Vice President that I will write a correction to my incomplete research: Jokowi’s White Paper and Gibran End Game. And I asked permission to complete it in my hometown in Balige. I will publish it,” he said.

Sianipar had previously also apologised to Jokowi. Jokowi said he had forgiven Sianipar, but handed over the matter of Sianipar’s legal status to his lawyers and the police.