"The Public Has the Right to Know": Jokowi Sued Again Over Diploma at Solo District Court

SOLO – The 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, is again being sued over the validity of his diploma. The Citizen Lawsuit (CLS) was filed by two alumni of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta, Top Taufan Hakim and Bangun Sutoto, through the Solo City District Court.

The plaintiffs' attorney, Muhammad Taufiq, stated that this lawsuit is based on the citizen's right to obtain certainty and accuracy of public information. According to him, the disputed Jokowi's diploma concerns not only his personal life but also the principle of accountability of state officials.

"The CLS was filed because it concerns the public's rights. The public has the right to be assured that public officials, especially the president, have a correct and valid educational track record," Taufiq said on Thursday, September 11.

In the lawsuit, registered under registration number PN-SKT 28082025GIR, the plaintiffs not only named Jokowi as a defendant, but also UGM Rector Ova Emilia, Vice Rector for Education and Teaching Wening Udasmoro, the Indonesian National Police, and UGM as co-defendants.

Top Taufan Hakim, a 2001 UGM Accounting alumnus, and Bangun Sutoto, a 2005 UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences alumnus, believe that clarification regarding Jokowi's diploma has been incomplete. Therefore, they are pursuing legal action through the CLS (Civil Society for Legal Studies) as a means to uphold citizens' collective rights.

"CLS is a legal mechanism to test this issue in court, not just debate it in the public sphere," said Taufiq.

Meanwhile, Jokowi's attorney, YB Irpan, stated that his team is still studying the lawsuit. He believes that Jokowi's current status is that of an ordinary citizen, no longer a state administrator, so the basis for the lawsuit needs to be examined.

"Mr. Jokowi now has the status of an ordinary citizen with the same standing as us. He has no authority as a state administrator," said Irpan.

The first hearing in this case is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. WIB at the Solo District Court.