Suspect in Counterfeit Diploma Case Apologises to Jokowi in Solo

Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar, the suspect in a counterfeit diploma case, visited the residence of Indonesia’s seventh President Joko Widodo in the Sumber area, Banjarsari District, Solo, Central Java, on Thursday, 12 March 2026. Rismon chose to apologise directly to Widodo regarding the controversy surrounding his research into a diploma issued by Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

In addition to apologising to Widodo, Rismon also extended his apologies to the public for the controversy that had emerged from his previous findings. He, who had previously collaborated with Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa in criticising Widodo, has now reversed his position.

“Of course, I apologise to the public as well. Especially to the relevant parties, such as Mr Joko Widodo. That is the responsibility of a researcher who must be independent, prepared to be criticised, insulted with narratives of others’ choosing, even though those narratives cannot be scientifically substantiated,” said Rismon after meeting Widodo in Solo on Thursday.

Over the past two months, Rismon has continued his examination of Widodo’s diploma after reviewing the analogue diploma document presented during the court proceedings. Following this, he decided to visit the former Solo mayor directly at his residence.

“First, I found that indeed when the court proceedings displayed the analogue diploma from Mr Joko Widodo. I continued to analyse what I observed there—that there was embossing and watermarks. So this embossing and watermarks became the subject of my study and I investigated whether there was indeed no hologram,” said Rismon.

“Perhaps after examining several other diploma objects from the same year from UGM, I found that at that time holograms were indeed not used as a security lock or protective feature in a diploma. So indeed what existed was only watermarks and embossing,” Rismon added.