Allegations Of Jokowi's Diplomas That Ended In Anticlimacy

JAKARTA - The issue of the 7th President's diploma of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), is a fake that has been circulating in the public for a long time, and has again surfaced in 2025, after Jokowi was no longer in office. The allegations came from the Ulema Defenders Team and Activists (TPUA) led by Eggi Sudjana, who assessed that there were indications of manipulation of Jokowi's academic documents.

Several other critics, including Roy Suryo, initially raised technical aspects such as font types to typelets used in Jokowi's thesis. Moreover, the joining of two other UGM alumni, Rismon Sianipar, who is a forensic expert and Doctor Tifasia. They are getting more and more concerned about Jokowi's diploma. Including asking for clarification from UGM at that time.

Seeing the stronger the public regarding Jokowi's diploma and doubts the validity of his Diploma. Although Jokowi's diploma was answered by the UGM Chancellor, Ova Emilia Sp.Og. PHD has answered doubts about Jokowi's educational status as an alumni of UGM in 1985, the public seems not satisfied with the statement of the UGM rector.

The police also secretly investigated the validity of Jokowi's diploma. On December 9, 2024, Eggi Sudjana (TPUA), the President of the Indonesian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association (PPMI), reported that the alleged forgery of Jokowi's diploma was sent by Egi to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police.

The National Police then received original documents from Jokowi, including high school and undergraduate diplomas, for forensic verification. During the investigation, the National Police stated that they would carry out a process of 'procedural and professional' while waiting for the results of the forensic laboratory.

Forensic Testing Results by Bareskrim, On May 22, 2025, Bareskrim Polri announced the results of a laboratory test (forensic Laboratory) on Jokowi's undergraduate diploma from the Faculty of Forestry UGM.

The examination includes various elements, including paper materials, paper safety, printing techniques, handwritten ink, stamps, and the signature ink of the dean and chancellor. As a result, the documents of Jokowi's diploma and the comparative diploma (of three students in UGM) were identical, which according to investigators showed that the diploma "derived from one of the same products."

The National Police also tested Jokowi's thesis on a forensic basis: consistency was found with the old-era tik machine and the letterpress printing method, according to the current printing owner. In addition, Bareskrim investigated Jokowi's educational background (SMA UGM, lecture, thesis) by examining witnesses, documents, and conducting case titles.

Bareskrim Conclusion: No Criminal Elements

From the results of the case title, Bareskrim stated that no criminal acts were found in this fake diploma report. Therefore, the investigation into Jokowi's diploma was stopped. The National Police also confirmed that Jokowi had indeed graduated from the Faculty of Forestry UGM and had a legal undergraduate diploma.

Even though Bareskrim closed the investigation into the alleged fake diploma, there was a separate step at the Polda Metro Jaya. On November 7, 2025, Polda Metro Jaya named 8 suspects in the alleged case of Jokowi's fake diploma. Based on the report of Jokowi's supporters who were angry, Jokowi continued to disturb him.

They are divided into two clusters:

The first cluster (5 people): ES, KTR, MRF, RE, DHL. (Eggi Sudjana, Kurnia Tri Rohyani (KTR), Muhammad Rizal Fadillah (MRF), Rustam Effendi (RE), and Damai Hari Lubis (DHL).

Abdullah Alkatiri, lawyer Egi Sujana, stated that his party would file a pretrial against his client as a suspect. According to Egi, at that time his party was defending his client Gus Nur (Sugi Nur Raharja), the determination of the suspect was considered odd and unprofessional because he had not been questioned and asked for information, but the suspect had been named. It is suspected that Jokowi's report was on charges of defamation.

The second cluster (3 people): Roy Suryo Hospital, RHS, and TT. Allegedly, including Roy Suryo, RHS or Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar, and TT or Tifauzia Tyassuma, these three people tried to chase down Jokowi's diploma and until finally they were still convinced that Jokowi's diploma was irregular.

The articles imposed on the suspect are a combination of the Criminal Code and the ITE Law, for example Article 310 (profession of good name), Article 311 of the Criminal Code, Article 160 of the Criminal Code, and articles from the ITE Law (Article 27a in conjunction with Article 45 paragraph 4, Article 28 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 45a paragraph 2).

The determination of the suspect was carried out after a case title and statively deepening', including expert examinations: criminal experts, ITE, legal sociology, communication, and language. Until the Polda Metro Jaya then summoned the suspects for questioning and clarification.

Two Separate Handling Paths

Bareskrim Polri handled the criminal aspect of the alleged forgery of diplomas against Jokowi, and stated that there was no criminal element after the forensic test. On the other hand, Polda Metro Jaya took action against wider reports, including allegations of slander, defamation, and manipulation of electronic data. This means that this case is not just a matter of document authenticity, but also about the spread of accusations and the impact of public reputation.

Forensic laboratory tests by Bareskrim became a key moment: by in-depth examination (papers, ink, stamps, signatures), the results were identical to the comparison who strengthened the statement of authenticity of the diploma. The validation of the thesis through the analysis of the tik machine and printing methods shows that the allegations of modern phonet'' or document manipulation that they had previously alleged were not proven in the context of forensics.

Legal Challenges And Freedom Of Opinion

The issue of this diploma is not only academic but also political: the reporter from TPUA implies that this is not only a matter of academic honesty, but is related to the legitimacy of leadership.

Determination of suspects at Polda Metro can be seen as a legal effort to reach the spreaders of accusations, not just testing the diploma itself. However, law enforcement can be seen as an attempt to hinder freedom of expression.

This case produces a dilemma between freedom of making public criticism/polemics and legal boundaries (benefitation, slander, data manipulation). Law enforcement against the spreader of accusations does not automatically signify repression; the police process involves a case title and experts show that there is a legal mechanism used to assess the credibility of the allegations.

The test run on allegations of Jokowi's fake diploma shows the complex dynamics between forensic verification, public reporting, and law enforcement. Although the Criminal Investigation Department stated that the original diploma and stopped the criminal investigation, Polda Metro Jaya still took action against the Gin who spread the allegations through the determination of suspects on the basis of defamation and data manipulation. This is not only a matter of the accuracy of academic documents, but also about how the legal system handled public controversy in the disinformation era.

Former Chairman of the Chief of Police Reform Prof. Jimly Asshiddiqie. Advises the good of Roy Surya cs and Jokowi to make peace, "They want to make peace or not," he said.

Meanwhile, Roy Surya CS's lawyer, Ahmad Khozinudin, openly refused to make peace, there should not be any cooperation between the batil people. He stated that at this time his party wanted to raise the title of the case. And apply for 4 names as expert witnesses.