Legal Team for Former Indonesian President Jokowi Pushes for Court Trial Over Diploma Controversy
The legal representative for Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo, is calling for the case involving allegations of fake diplomas and digital manipulation to be moved to a court of law to reach a definitive resolution.
Rivai Kusumanegara, the attorney for the former president, made the statement on Friday, April 10, 2026, responding to comments from former Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Kalla, who served as the nation’s 10th and 12th vice president, had previously remarked that the dispute over Jokowi’s academic credentials had dragged on for too long.
Kusumanegara emphasized that a trial is the only way to establish “legal certainty” regarding the authenticity of the documents. He warned that if the legal process is halted now, the issue could resurface in the coming years, potentially causing further public disruption.
The move underscores a strategic effort to permanently silence long-standing rumors through a formal judicial verdict rather than public appeals. Beyond clearing the former president’s name, the legal team argues that a court ruling would vindicate other institutions caught in the controversy, including Gadjah Mada University (UGM), the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikti).
According to Kusumanegara, the investigation has already seen significant progress. Authorities have already collected statements from various witnesses, including UGM officials, professors, and former classmates. Forensic laboratory tests have been conducted to verify the legitimacy of the diploma.
While Jusuf Kalla had urged the former president to simply present the original diploma to the public to end the polemic, Jokowi has maintained a strict legal boundary. The former president has stated that he is prepared to provide his testimony and produce the original document, but will only do so if officially requested by a judge during court proceedings.
