Aggravating Factors in Sentencing of Two Former Subordinates of Nadiem: Hinders Equitable Education

Two former subordinates of former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim have been sentenced to four years and four-and-a-half years in a corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM). The aggravating factor in the verdict is that their actions hindered the equitable distribution of education quality in Indonesia.

“This criminal act of corruption in the education sector has a double impact: financial loss to the state and non-material loss in the form of hindered equitable education quality,” stated Presiding Judge Purwanto Abdullah at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (27/4/2026).

Additionally, the defendants’ actions were deemed to cause substantial state losses and were committed in the education sector. Yet, the education sector is a strategic one.

“The defendants’ actions have caused significant state losses. The actions were carried out in the education sector, which is a strategic sector for national development and directly impacts the education quality of Indonesian children,” he said.

As for the mitigating factors, the defendants have served long in the education field. The two defendants also have good track records during their service.

“The defendants have never been convicted and have dedicated themselves as civil servants in the education field,” he revealed.

The two defendants are Mulyatsyah, Director of Junior High Schools (SMP) at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in 2020, and Sri Wahyuningsih, Director of Primary Schools at the Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Basic Education, and Secondary Education in 2020-2021. Mulyatsyah was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, and Sri to four years.

Both were imposed with fines replaceable by imprisonment of 120 days if unpaid. For Mulyatsyah, the judge added a supplementary penalty of restitution amounting to Rp 2.2 billion.