The legal counsel for Rismon Sianipar, Jahmada Girsang, has strongly reacted to the intent of Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla (JK), to report his client to the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri). This legal move stems from statements that allegedly implicated JK’s name in funding the contentious controversy surrounding the alleged fake diploma of Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
Jahmada firmly asserted that Rismon Sianipar never once mentioned Jusuf Kalla’s name in connection with financing the fake diploma allegations. He further clarified that the statements circulating in the public domain are nothing more than “technological manipulation” or a “hoax.” “Rismon never mentioned Mr. JK (Jusuf Kalla); the video circulating is a hoax, AI,” Jahmada stated when contacted on Sunday, April 5th.
Regarding the impending legal action from Jusuf Kalla’s team, scheduled for Monday, April 6th, Jahmada expressed a measured approach, stating he was not inclined to rush. He emphasized that any such report would invariably undergo a rigorous verification process by the police. “I believe we should let it unfold. Filing a report isn’t that straightforward. The initial evidence presented will be thoroughly scrutinised at the Integrated Police Service Center (SPKT),” he added.
Earlier, Jusuf Kalla himself had unveiled his intention to formally report Rismon Sianipar to Bareskrim Polri. This decision was prompted by persistent accusations suggesting that Kalla had financially supported the ongoing dispute over President Jokowi’s alleged fake diploma. “News has spread in the media, based on statements attributed to Mr. Rismon Sianipar, claiming that I funded Roy Suryo and his associates with Rp 5 billion to challenge Jokowi’s diploma,” JK affirmed from his residence in South Jakarta on Sunday, April 5th.
Kalla unequivocally declared these allegations false and emphatically stated that he had no acquaintance whatsoever with Rismon Sianipar. “I can definitively say that it is absolutely and certainly untrue. I have never known that Rismon, in any capacity. We have never even met. I know Roy (Suryo) because he was a former minister under me, but not the others,” he explained. He further challenged Rismon to provide concrete evidence for his claims. “If that’s truly the case, then where and when did this happen? Because this information has already widely circulated. Therefore, I want to reiterate that my lawyer, Mr. Haris, will represent me tomorrow to report Mr. Rismon to Bareskrim, to uncover the truth and establish that what was said is unequivocally false,” Kalla underscored.
In a related development concerning the alleged fake diploma issue involving President Joko Widodo, it is noteworthy that Rismon Sianipar had previously met directly with both President Jokowi and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to offer a personal apology. Furthermore, Rismon has also submitted an application for restorative justice (RJ) to the Metro Jaya Regional Police in connection with this series of cases, although this request has not yet been approved by law enforcement authorities.
Summary
Jusuf Kalla (JK) plans to