SURAKARTA, Legal Literacy – Investigators from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police have confiscated the original diplomas of Senior High School (SMA) and Bachelor's Degree (S1) belonging to former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). This confiscation was carried out as part of the ongoing investigation process into alleged defamation related to accusations of using fake diplomas. This legal step was directly confirmed by Jokowi after he underwent examination as a reporter at the Headquarters 2 (Mako 2) of the Surakarta Police, Central Java, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
"The confiscation has been carried out for the S1 and SMA diplomas by the investigators," said Jokowi. "I will respect and follow the ongoing legal process."
The examination, which lasted approximately three hours, was conducted in Solo because the Jakarta Metropolitan Police investigators were examining a number of other witnesses in Jokowi's hometown. Accompanied by his legal team, Jokowi faced 45 questions. According to him, most of the questions were repetitions from previous examinations in Jakarta.
"I answered according to what I know and what happened," he explained.
One of the focuses of the investigators' questions was regarding Dian Sandi, the figure who first uploaded Jokowi's diploma photo to social media. Jokowi clarified that he had never ordered anyone to do so.
"I was asked if I knew him, when I met him, and whether I asked him to post the diploma. I answered everything, I met him when I visited my house to apologize for posting my diploma," explained Jokowi.
In addition, the investigators also requested clarification regarding one of his lecturers at the Faculty of Forestry UGM, Ir. Kasmudjo MS. "He was indeed my supervising lecturer, but the thesis supervisor was Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Sumitro. This is just to clarify," he added.

Proofing Steps in Court

Jokowi's attorney, Yakup Hasibuan, stated that the reporting party welcomed this confiscation. According to him, this is in line with their commitment from the beginning to be cooperative in the context of material evidence in court.
"We are very welcome because this is part of fulfilling the investigation," said Yakup. "Later it will be shown in court. For now, be patient, especially for those who continue to ask for the original diploma to be shown. Because it has been confiscated, it means it will officially become evidence in court."

The Reported Party Asks for a Special Case Title

On the other hand, the reported party, represented by attorney Roy Suryo, Ahmad Khozinudin, asked the Jakarta Metropolitan Police to hold a special case title. This request follows the increase in the status of the case from investigation to investigation, which they consider to have been carried out unilaterally.
"Our client as the reported party was not involved in the previous case title process. However, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police unilaterally increased its status to investigation," said Ahmad.
He argued that the criminal law process of defamation cannot be continued to the investigation stage before a court decision with permanent legal force (inkracht van gewijsde) states the validity of Jokowi's diploma. Previously, on July 11, 2025, the Head of Public Relations of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Kombes Pol Ade Ary Syam Indradi, had announced that the case had been raised to the investigation stage after it was discovered that there was an alleged criminal event in the case title. With the increase in status to investigation (a series of actions to find evidence and find suspects according to Article 1 point 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code), the door for determining suspects is now open, with a minimum requirement of two sufficient pieces of evidence.