Roy Suryo and Doctor Tifa Not Detained, Families Act as Guarantors

The South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office (Kejari Jaksel) has decided not to detain two suspects in an alleged defamation and character assassination case concerning the authenticity of former President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi) academic certificates, namely Roy Suryo and Tifauzia Tyassuma, commonly known as Doctor Tifa. The decision was taken after family members provided guarantees regarding the suspects’ whereabouts and cooperative attitude during the legal process.

Head of the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office, Marcelo Bellah, explained that the request for suspension or non-detention was granted because of two primary guarantors from the family. “The reason this could be granted is because there are two guarantors. The first guarantor is Roy Suryo’s wife, Mbak Ririn, and the second guarantor is Doctor Tifa’s child, Adinda Rizki,” Marcelo told reporters at the Kejari Jaksel office on Monday (22/6).

In addition to family members, Marcelo added that the suspects’ legal counsel team also agreed to act as guarantors. The prosecutor’s office assessed that both suspects have a clear place of residence and demonstrated good conduct during the investigation process.

Previously, investigators from the Polda Metro Jaya General Criminal Investigation Directorate had transferred custody of the suspects along with evidence to the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office as the public prosecutor (Phase II). During this transfer, investigators handed over a total of 714 items of evidence, comprising various types.

Roy Suryo and Doctor Tifa arrived at the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office on Monday morning at 09.43 WIB, wearing orange detainee vests, to undergo the administrative process of case transfer.

The case originated from an alleged criminal act of attacking someone’s honour or reputation, committed in public, both through electronic media and directly. The suspects are charged under Articles 434, 433, and 441 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), as well as Articles 35 and 32 of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).

With the completion of this second-stage transfer, the public prosecutor will immediately prepare the indictment to subsequently transfer the case to court for trial.