Treated at Police Hospital, Dr Tifa Suffers GERD and High Stress — Roy Suryo's Condition Remains Mysterious
Jakarta – Tifauzia Tyassuma, also known as Dr Tifa, a suspect in an alleged defamation and slander case regarding the authenticity of the diploma of Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), is receiving inpatient care at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital following a recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Her legal counsel, Refly Harun, stated in Jakarta on Friday evening that Dr Tifa has a pre-existing condition. “One of them is GERD, which flared up because she had not eaten since morning and was facing a high level of stress,” he said.
This condition, compounded by exhaustion, led to Dr Tifa briefly using a wheelchair after undergoing examination in the Emergency Department of the Police Hospital. Refly explained that prior to the health check, Dr Tifa had been engaged in various preparations for her dissertation seminar, which had been scheduled earlier. According to him, the series of activities drained Dr Tifa’s physical and mental condition, adding to the pressure she was facing.
“Alhamdulillah, the examination still took place via Zoom, but under conditions of great pressure and discomfort,” Refly said. After all agendas were completed, the medical team conducted a health evaluation and decided that Dr Tifa needed inpatient care for further monitoring.
Meanwhile, Refly did not provide detailed information about the illness experienced by the other suspect in the same case, Roy Suryo. “It is not possible for us to discuss someone else’s illness. Mr Roy’s illness is not specific and is quite common. Around 30 per cent of Indonesians suffer from this condition,” Refly stated.
As of Friday evening, Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa were still undergoing treatment at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital while awaiting developments in their health conditions. Both underwent health examinations at the hospital at around 5:55 p.m. Western Indonesian Time and were immediately taken to the Emergency Department under escort from the Metro Jaya Regional Police.
Roy Suryo arrived wearing a blue-and-white shirt and dark grey shorts. As he stepped out of the detention vehicle, he clenched his fist and said, “Ready.” Shortly afterwards, Dr Tifa disembarked from a detention vehicle wearing an orange detainee vest. Previously, the Advocacy Team Against the Criminalisation of Academics and Activists stated that Roy Suryo was arrested by Metro Jaya Police investigators on Friday morning at around 7:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.