Jokowi Testifies at Roy Suryo Trial, Police Prepare Traffic Diversions in East Jakarta

The East Jakarta Metro Police will implement situational traffic diversions around the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday (5/11), following the scheduled examination of witness Joko Widodo in the continuation of the defamation case with defendant Roy Suryo. The arrangement takes effect from 06.00 WIB until the hearing ends, and was announced via the official Instagram account @polresmetrojaktim.

The diversions target two main routes. Vehicles from the Klender direction passing along Jalan I Gusti Ngurah Rai toward the court and the East Jakarta Mayor's Office—especially those crossing the flyover—will be temporarily redirected to alternative routes. Meanwhile, traffic from the Penggilingan direction heading to the court will be directed through Pasar Inpres. Police ask road users to follow officers' directions and use the prepared routes.

The Metro Jaya Police also deployed layered security. According to the Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, the institution routinely provides services and security for every public activity, including this hearing that has drawn public attention. Budi made the statement to journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday (4/11).

The Head of the East Jakarta District Court, Efendi, affirmed that the hearing remains open to the public. However, he limited the number of visitors entering the courtroom to the capacity of 80 people in order to maintain order. To accommodate the public who cannot be seated, the court provided television screens outside the courtroom so the proceedings can be watched live.

"This hearing is open to the public. We do not discriminate, all parties may watch, the general public may too. But the room capacity is 80 people, no more, so the hearing remains conducive," Efendi said at the East Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (3/11).

He added that visitors from both camps—supporters and opponents—are treated equally. The top priority, Efendi said, is comfort and safety during the judicial process. The arrangement reflects the court's effort to balance the principle of transparency with limited facilities.

Jokowi's presence as a witness in the case ensnaring Roy Suryo has drawn particular attention. Previously, Roy Suryo was reported over his statement touching on the diploma of the 7th president. This hearing is expected to attract wide attention, both from Jokowi's supporters and Roy Suryo's sympathizers, so potential crowding around the court needs to be anticipated.

On the traffic side, situational diversions are indeed common for police during major events in the East Jakarta area. However, because it involves a national figure, this security operation is tighter than usual. Police have not detailed the number of personnel deployed, but ensured coordination with the court and the local city government.

Residents who usually pass along Jalan I Gusti Ngurah Rai and the Penggilingan area during rush hour are advised to seek alternative routes from the morning. Delays may occur, especially if public enthusiasm is high. Real-time navigation apps can serve as a guide, though official diversions still follow officers' directions on the ground.

Notably, this hearing is also a test of crowd management in public spaces. With limited capacity and live broadcasts outside the room, the court seeks to prevent friction between camps. Efendi stressed that his office will not tolerate capacity violations for the sake of shared comfort.

Going forward, the public will watch whether these traffic diversions and access restrictions effectively maintain order, as well as how Jokowi's testimony affects the course of the case. If enthusiasm exceeds expectations, it is not impossible that the court will add extra screens or extend service hours. What is clear is that on Thursday, East Jakarta will be the center of legal and traffic attention.