Indonesian police name eight suspects in alleged fake diploma case against Ex-President Widodo

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) have named eight individuals as suspects in an ongoing investigation into the spread of claims that former President Joko Widodo’s university diploma was falsified.

Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri said on 7 November 2025 that the suspects were allegedly involved in circulating and amplifying misinformation through social media and online discussion platforms.

The suspects have been divided into two groups. The first group—identified by the initials ES, KTR, MRF, RE, and DHL—faces defamation charges under Articles 310–311 of the Criminal Code and Article 27A of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.

The second group—RS, RHS, and TT—is accused of electronic-data manipulation and incitement under Articles 32(1), 48(1), and 35 of the same law.

The controversy first surfaced in 2022, when activists and online commentators began comparing Widodo’s alleged diploma with those of other graduates from the same period.

Differences were noted in the font style, paper seal, and official signature, which some said were inconsistent with genuine UGM-issued certificates from the early 1980s.

Critics also questioned why Widodo’s diploma appeared to bear a different serial number format from those reportedly used in that academic year.

They also pointed to discrepancies in faculty records and academic timelines, noting that archives confirming Widodo’s thesis submission date are not publicly accessible.

They argued that the absence of such documentation has fuelled uncertainty about whether the President’s academic requirements were fully completed and officially recorded at the time

These claims gained traction as social media users circulated side-by-side images of purported diplomas, which they said indicated forgery or reissuance.

The issue intensified when Widodo declined to publicly display his original diploma, stating that official confirmation from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) should be sufficient.

UGM, located in Yogyakarta, has repeatedly affirmed that Widodo graduated from its Faculty of Forestry and completed all academic requirements.

However, it acknowledged that some older physical records were affected by archival changes and a fire in the 1980s, complicating document retrieval. That gap in physical evidence became a focal point for sceptics.

A civil lawsuit filed in 2022 at the Central Jakarta District Court sought to verify the authenticity of Widodo’s degree but was dismissed due to lack of credible evidence.

Despite the ruling, videos and claims resurfaced periodically, leading to the President’s 2025 defamation report and the current criminal case.

Former Minister Roy Suryo, one of those named as a suspect, said the controversy “emerged from unanswered questions, not personal attacks,” and insisted that the public had the right to request clarification from public figures. Other suspects similarly maintained they were sharing publicly available information or commentary, not fabricating data.

Police, however, have said that forensic digital analysis shows that several of the online posts used edited or misleading images of diplomas and that at least some of the alleged supporting documents were digitally manipulated. The investigation has involved over 130 witnesses and 22 expert witnesses, including digital-forensics specialists, linguists, and legal scholars.

Police and institutional responses

Polda Metro Jaya emphasised that the investigation targets the deliberate spread of misinformation, not public debate. “This is not about academic curiosity; it’s about the intentional dissemination of falsified material to discredit an individual,” said Director of General Crimes Commissioner Iman Imanuddin.

UGM has reaffirmed that Widodo’s student records, thesis documentation, and exam transcripts are consistent with those of a legitimate graduate. The university has declined to release scans of the diploma, citing privacy and data-protection laws, but confirmed its willingness to cooperate fully with investigators.

Meanwhile, legal-rights groups and commentators continue to warn that broad application of the ITE Law could suppress legitimate discussion. The advocacy group SAFEnet stated that while false information must be addressed, “the line between misinformation and public scrutiny remains thin and must be handled carefully to preserve free expression.”

Widodo’s legal counsel, Dini Purwanti, said the spread of fake documents and doctored visuals had gone beyond criticism and amounted to intentional defamation. “This case is not about questioning credentials—it’s about spreading deliberate falsehoods,” she said.

Police said further findings will be disclosed once the questioning of all suspects is complete. The next phase will focus on forensic verification of digital evidence and metadata of the uploaded documents.