Roy Suryo Faces Up to 12 Years in Prison, Rp5 Billion Fine in Jokowi Diploma Case

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, Roy Suryo, is facing potential penalties of up to 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp5 billion in a case involving accusations of a fake diploma belonging to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Prosecutors have charged him with defamation and violations of electronic information laws. The most severe criminal threat, as outlined in the subsidiary indictment, is under Article 35 in conjunction with Article 51(1) of Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions, as amended by Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Adjustments to Criminal Law. During the initial hearing at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday (17/9), prosecutors also charged Suryo with violating Article 433(1) in conjunction with Article 441(1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. For the defamation charges, Roy Suryo faces a maximum prison sentence of nine months or a maximum fine of Rp10 million. However, this penalty can be increased by one-third if the act is committed using information technology, as stipulated in Article 441(1) of the Criminal Code. Prosecutors also charged Suryo under Article 32 in conjunction with Article 48(1) of the ITE Law, as amended by the Law on Adjustments to Criminal Law. This article regulates sanctions for anyone who intentionally and without right alters, adds to, or moves electronic documents belonging to others or the public. If found guilty of violating this article, Roy Suryo faces a maximum prison sentence of 8 years and/or a maximum fine of Rp500 million. Despite the charges, Roy Suryo rejected the offer to resolve the case of the alleged fake diploma of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) through restorative justice. He firmly stated that he would not pursue RJ and did not acknowledge the charges presented by the prosecutors. "We will not pursue RJ and will not admit to the actions," Roy stated in the trial. When asked by the judge, "Will you file a defense?", Roy replied, "Yes, Your Honor." The judge then announced that the trial would resume on Thursday (24/9) of the following week. Roy Suryo is accused of committing defamation and violations related to electronic information in the case of the alleged fake diploma of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). In their indictment, the Public Prosecutor's Office (JPU) assessed that Roy Suryo had attacked Jokowi's honor or reputation by claiming his university diploma from UGM was fake. In addition, Roy is also accused of intentionally spreading accusations that he could not prove widely through information technology. "Who verbally attacks the honor or reputation of another person by accusing them of something with the intention that the matter be known to the public, is given the opportunity to prove the truth of the matter accused but cannot prove it, and the accusation contradicts what they know, committed through information technology," the prosecutor stated while reading the indictment at the East Jakarta District Court. Information source: CNN Indonesia