Rahmat Hidayat – Indonesian police detained former Youth and Sports Minister Roy Suryo and physician Tifauzia Tyassuma, widely known as Doctor Tifa, in connection with an ongoing defamation case involving allegations that former President Joko Widodo's university diploma was forged.
The two suspects were arrested by investigators from the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Police, known as Polda Metro Jaya, at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time on Friday, June 19, 2026, marking the latest development in a high-profile legal dispute that has attracted national attention.
Ahmad Khozinudin, legal counsel for Roy Suryo, said he was informed of the arrest by Roy Suryo's wife, while Doctor Tifa was reportedly taken into custody at her apartment.
Khozinudin criticized the arrests, arguing that both suspects had cooperated fully throughout the investigation process, including complying with mandatory reporting requirements imposed by investigators.
"We regret the decision of Polda Metro Jaya investigators to carry out a coercive measure through arrest, even though our clients have been cooperative throughout the investigation process and have consistently fulfilled their mandatory reporting obligations," Khozinudin said.
According to the lawyer, if prosecutors had completed their review of the case files and intended to proceed to the next procedural stage, authorities could have issued a formal summons rather than conducting arrests.
"If the action was intended as part of the second-stage transfer process or because the case file has been declared complete, then it could have been carried out through an official summons," he said.
Khozinudin further alleged that the arrests reflected political interference in the legal process.
"We believe this arrest confirms that the law is no longer operating according to legal norms and ethics, but is instead serving Jokowi's political interests," he said.
As of Friday afternoon, Polda Metro Jaya had not issued an official statement regarding the arrests.
The case stems from allegations circulated on social media questioning the authenticity of Joko Widodo's academic diploma. Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, filed a complaint alleging defamation and reputational harm linked to the claims.
Indonesia's Gadjah Mada University (UGM), where Widodo studied, has publicly stated that the diploma and academic records in question are authentic.
Police previously said the investigation involved the examination of 130 witnesses, 25 expert witnesses, 17 categories of evidence, and 709 supporting documents.
Authorities initially named eight suspects divided into two groups. The first group included Eggi Sudjana, Kurnia Tri Rohyani, Damai Hari Lubis, Rustam Effendi, and Muhammad Rizal Fadillah. The second group consisted of Roy Suryo, Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar, and Tifauzia Tyassuma.
However, investigators later revoked the suspect status of Eggi Sudjana, Damai Hari Lubis, and Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar after they submitted formal apologies to Widodo and pursued a restorative justice process under Indonesian law.
The arrests mark a new phase in a high-profile Indonesian defamation investigation involving allegations surrounding former President Joko Widodo's academic credentials.