Jakarta. Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo arrived at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday morning to testify as a witness in a defamation trial involving former minister Roy Suryo, who accused him of using a forged university degree.

Jokowi's arrival sparked a commotion at the courthouse as crowds of supporters gathered to see the former Indonesian leader.

Authorities deployed around 1,200 security personnel to maintain order and prevent potential disturbances during the high-profile hearing.

The court limited attendance inside the courtroom to 80 people and installed television screens outside the building to allow journalists and members of the public to follow the proceedings.

Roy, who served as youth and sports minister under former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is standing trial alongside social media activist Tifauzia Tyassuma, widely known as Dr. Tifa.

The two defendants have alleged that Jokowi forged his bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Forestry at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), which he used as part of his documentation when running in the 2014 presidential election. They also claim that he never graduated from the university.

Both Jokowi and UGM have repeatedly rejected the allegations, which have fueled a controversy spanning more than a decade and involving numerous individuals who have questioned the authenticity of his academic credentials.

Some of those who previously made similar accusations have since withdrawn their claims and issued public apologies, while others have maintained their allegations and are now facing legal proceedings.

Jokowi's legal team said the former president was prepared to present his complete academic records during the hearing to counter the accusations.

"During this trial, Jokowi will show the Indonesian people all his diplomas, from elementary school and junior high school to senior high school and university," his lawyer said in a written statement.
 

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