JAKARTA, The Kabar News–Former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo presented his original educational certificates at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday, Nov. 5, while testifying in the defamation trial arising from allegations that his university diploma was fraudulent.

Jokowi appeared as a prosecution witness in the case involving former youth and sports minister Roy Suryo and physician Tifauzia Tyassuma (dr. Tifa). Both defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence until the court issues a final verdict.

During the hearing, Jokowi showed the judges his certificates from elementary school, junior high school and senior high school. He also showed his bachelor’s degree from Gadjah Mada University’s Faculty of Forestry.

“We have submitted the original bachelor’s diploma, senior high school diploma, junior high school diploma and elementary school diploma to the honorable judges,” Jokowi told reporters after the hearing.

The Supreme Court’s MARINews service reported that Jokowi described his educational history under oath. He attended SD Negeri 111 Surakarta, SMP Negeri 1 Surakarta and SMA Negeri 6 Surakarta before studying forestry at UGM.

Jokowi told the court that his aide first showed him a video containing Roy’s allegations in March 2025. He said similar accusations had circulated for several years. However, they became more serious in 2025, prompting him to seek legal advice and file a complaint.

The former president also said police forensic specialists had previously examined his diploma. Therefore, he questioned the need for another forensic test. Nevertheless, the defendants and their lawyers retain the right to challenge evidence through the judicial process.

After the examination ended, Jokowi approached Roy and his legal team. The former president shook hands with Roy before greeting prosecutors and the judges.

The gesture attracted public attention because the two men sit on opposing sides of a contentious legal dispute. However, neither party said the handshake represented a settlement or withdrawal of the case.

Jokowi also expressed anger over statements that questioned the identities of his parents. He said the allegations became deeply personal after the controversy extended beyond his education.

“I was deeply offended and very angry because they said those things about my biological mother and father,” Jokowi said. “They fed me and sent me to school from the time I was a child. Who would not feel hurt?”

Jokowi responds to Gibran controversy

Separately, reporters asked Jokowi about calls for the removal of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. These calls followed court disputes concerning Gibran’s education-equivalency document.

“We should respect every ongoing legal process,” Jokowi said. “We should also respect the rights guaranteed by our Constitution.”

The issue is legally separate from Jokowi’s defamation case. In October, the Constitutional Court said it had not received convincing evidence in that proceeding. The court did not find that Gibran possessed a foreign diploma supporting the equivalency document.

However, the court declared the petition inadmissible because the applicants lacked legal standing. It also said it could not disqualify Gibran through that case.

The rulings do not automatically remove Gibran from office. Articles 7A and 7B of the Constitution require a proposal from the House of Representatives. There must also be a Constitutional Court examination and a final decision by the People’s Consultative Assembly.

Jokowi’s appearance therefore advanced the evidentiary stage of his defamation case. Meanwhile, the separate constitutional debate over Gibran remains subject to established legal and political procedures.