Jakarta, VIVA \u2013 The former Minister of Education, Culture, Research,\nand Technology for the 2019-2024 period, Nadiem Makarim, expressed his\ngratitude to all parties present during the reading of his defence\nstatement (pleidoi) on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.<\/p>\n
He stated he was moved by the support shown by numerous online\nmotorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers who came to encourage him during the\nongoing trial regarding the corruption case involving Chromebook\nprocurement. \u201cI am grateful to all the voices that defend the truth. I\nwas quite moved to see the drivers outside accompanying me earlier. Many\neven joined from the streets,\u201d Nadiem told journalists at the Central\nJakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.<\/p>\n
Nadiem remarked that the case ensnaring him should serve as a lesson\nfor the improvement of the legal system in Indonesia. He believes that\nIndonesian law must be based on the principles of Pancasila. \u201cThis is no\nlonger about me; it is about our country. It is about whether the\ndirection of not just the law, but the fundamental principles of\nPancasila in this country, is still being held strongly,\u201d Nadiem said.\n\u201cThat is all, and I hope this case serves as a lesson for the\nimprovement of our legal system and our nation in the future,\u201d he\nadded.<\/p>\n
Nadiem is one of the defendants in the alleged corruption case\ninvolving the education digitalisation programme, specifically related\nto the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management\n(CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and\nTechnology during the 2019 to 2022 period.<\/p>\n
Previously, prosecutors sought an 18-year prison sentence for Nadiem.\nAdditionally, he faces a fine of Rp1 billion, which, if unpaid, will be\nreplaced by 190 days of imprisonment. The prosecution also demanded the\npayment of restitution amounting to Rp5.67 trillion, with a subsidiary\nsentence of nine years in prison.<\/p>\n
According to the indictment, the former Minister was involved in\ncorruption that caused state losses of approximately Rp2.18 trillion.\nThe alleged violations occurred during the procurement of information\nand communication technology-based learning devices, namely Chromebook\nlaptops and CDM, for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 budget years, which were\ndeemed not to have been executed in accordance with planning or the\nprinciples of government goods and services procurement.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nadiem-makarim-my-case-should-serve-as-a-lesson-for-improving-our-national-legal-system-1780877591", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }