TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The issue of fake diplomas has once again tarnished the world of politics and international governance. The latest case comes from Japan, where Mayor Ito in Shizuoka Prefecture, Maki Takubo, resigned after being embroiled in allegations of using a fake diploma. Takubo had previously claimed to be a graduate of Toyo University, but it was revealed that he was actually expelled from the university.
Takubo made this confession at a press conference on July 7, 2025. He admitted to approving the publication of his graduation status in the city's official publications, despite never actually obtaining the degree. He also publicly apologized to the residents through the city's official website and directly to over 100 staff members at City Hall on July 8.
Takubo even presented a diploma as proof, although he admitted that he did not remember where the document came from. The diploma will now be handed over to the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutor's Office as evidence. The scandal had an immediate impact on the tourism sector, with several travel agencies canceling tours to the city's hot spring resorts.
Takubo is not the only official involved in such a case. In various parts of the world, allegations of fake diplomas and academic corruption also haunt government institutions, educational facilities, and legislative bodies.
Massive Scandal in Northern Cyprus, Turkey
According to OCCRP, one of the largest academic scandals was uncovered at Kibris Saglik ve Toplum Bilimleri Universitesi (KSTU), Northern Cyprus, which implicated several high-ranking officials. Secretary-General Serdal Gndz, Vice Dean Serdal Iikta, and Head of the International Office Amir Shakira were charged with document forgery and the circulation of fake diplomas.
Government officials, including former Deputy Minister of Social Affairs, Celebi Ilik, were found to have used fake diplomas to secure job promotions and salary increases. Investigations revealed that Ilk's postgraduate diploma was issued on the first day of his registration as a student, without attending any lectures.
The police suspect that this scheme has generated tens of millions of dollars from fictitious registration practices and fake diplomas, with many victims coming from countries in the Middle East and Africa. Ironically, the higher education sector in the region has long been known as an entry point for human trafficking, labor exploitation, and hidden prostitution under the guise of student visas.
Kyrgyzstan: Mass Purge of Officials with Fake Diplomas
In Kyrgyzstan, the government, through the National Security Committee (GKNB), is investigating nearly 100 officials, including members of parliament, judges, and police, for suspected possession of fake diplomas. According to Eurasia Net, since March 2025, at least 16 officials have resigned, and nine others have voluntarily surrendered their diplomas.
This purge was initiated after President Sadyr Japarov called for the verification of diplomas for all state officials. The in-depth investigation even led to tragedy, when an elementary school teacher in Naryn committed suicide due to pressure from investigators regarding her academic documents.
Critics argue that this campaign has also been used to eliminate opposition figures. One of them is Orozayym Narmatova, a member of parliament from the Butun Kyrgyzstan party, who lost her seat after being accused of obtaining diplomas illegally.
Jokowi's Diploma
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the controversy over the authenticity of former President Joko Widodo's diploma has resurfaced. Although the Forensic Laboratory Center has declared that Jokowi's diploma from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) is authentic, some parties remain skeptical. The Advocacy Team for Ulama and Activists (TPUA), led by Eggi Sudjana, reported allegations of forgery and submitted additional evidence from telecommunications and digital forensics experts.
The National Police initially elevated the legal status of this case to the investigation stage based on four different reports, including a report filed directly by President Jokowi regarding defamation.
The special investigation results on July 9, 2025 confirmed the initial findings: Jokowi's diploma was declared genuine and no criminal elements were found. However, the TPUA continues to reject these findings and continues to demand further investigations, claiming that the ongoing process is legally unsound.
Dewi Rina Cahyani and Muhammad Nafis Wirasaputra also contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor's Choice: Bareskrim Closes Case on Alleged Fake Diploma of Former President Jokowi
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