Gibran Defense Team Displays Academic Documents at PTUN

As the legal challenge surrounding Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s educational credentials reaches the Jakarta State Administrative Court, his defense team has publicly displayed documents of his academic certificates spanning from elementary school through his undergraduate degree, while the plaintiffs walked out after seeking primary verification documents.

The underlying lawsuit, registered under case number 255/G/2026/PTUN.JKT, challenges the validity of Education Ministry Decree No. 9149/D.D1/KS/2019 issued on August 6, 2019. This administrative decree served as the equivalency basis for Gibran’s secondary education requirements during his vice-presidential registration. While the Constitutional Court previously declined to disqualify Gibran due to a lack of legal standing among the petitioners—noting the equivalency relied on attendance certificates rather than a direct foreign high school diploma—the PTUN Jakarta proceedings have continued to scrutinize the issuance procedures of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikdasmen).

Plaintiff Walkout and Legal Disputes at the Jakarta Administrative Court

The hearing took a sharp turn when attorney Denny Indrayana, representing the plaintiff PT Mercy Toga Kirana, announced the withdrawal of the lawsuit and led a walkout from the courtroom. CNN Indonesia reported that Denny pulled out of the proceedings because the Ministry of Education failed to present foundational documents, such as attendance certificates and enrollment records from UTS Insearch, which originally justified the issuance of the equivalency letter.

Denny stated in court that the defense’s refusal to produce these primary administrative files compromised the integrity of the judicial review. SINDONews Nasional noted that the plaintiff’s petition formally asked the court to declare the 2019 equivalency decree void, arguing it lacked primary substantiation and violated principles of good governance.

However, the Ministry of Education and Gibran’s legal team objected to the sudden withdrawal. Muhammad Rullyandi, counsel for Gibran, argued against the withdrawal of the case by the plaintiffs during the proceedings at the PTUN Jakarta. Rullyandi labeled the plaintiffs’ exit a sign of unseriousness, prompting the panel of judges to remind the government respondents that producing the requested administrative records remains essential for maintaining judicial trust.

Defense Team Displays Scanned Academic Records

Following the walkout, Gibran’s legal representatives turned the session into an open documentation display, presenting extensive documents of the Vice President’s educational background to the panel and media. According to Kompas, the defense exhibited records starting from Gibran’s elementary school years and junior high school graduation from SMP Negeri 1 Surakarta.

The defense dossier also details Gibran’s international studies. Adil Supatra Akbar of Gibran’s legal team explained that after completing his secondary education at Orchid Park Secondary School in Singapore between 2002 and 2004—earning an Ordinary Level (O Level) certificate—Gibran attended UTS Insearch in Sydney, Australia, where he received a certificate of attendance. He subsequently studied at The Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) from 2007 to 2010, securing an advanced diploma equivalent to an A Level, before completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Bradford.

Rullyandi emphasized that these records form part of a comprehensive 69-page formal legal response submitted to PTUN Jakarta, asserting that the original physical documents will be formally presented during subsequent evidentiary hearings as required by procedural law.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific document is being challenged in the PTUN Jakarta lawsuit?

The lawsuit targets Ministry of Education Decree No. 9149/D.D1/KS/2019, issued on August 6, 2019, which granted an educational equivalency status used during Gibran’s electoral registration.

Who filed the administrative lawsuit against the education ministry?

The lawsuit was filed by PT Mercy Toga Kirana, with Denny Indrayana acting as the lead counsel representing the plaintiff organization before the Jakarta State Administrative Court.

What educational institutions did Gibran attend abroad according to his legal team?

Gibran’s defense team outlined his studies at Orchid Park Secondary School in Singapore, UTS Insearch in Australia, MDIS in Singapore, and the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.

Why did the plaintiffs walk out of the courtroom?

Denny Indrayana withdrew from the proceedings because government respondents did not present the primary administrative records and attendance certificates used to formulate the original 2019 equivalency decree.

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