Ahead of Verdict Hearing, Ibam, Ex-Consultant to Nadiem, Hopes for Acquittal in Chromebook Case

Former consultant to the ex-Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, will face the verdict hearing in the alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of Chromebooks and Chrome Device Management (CDM) this afternoon. Ibam hopes to be acquitted in the case. “From my side, it’s bismillah, insyaAllah whatever it is, the best. And of course, the hope is to be free, because I didn’t do anything here,” said Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday (12/5/2026). Ibam claims he did not enjoy any benefits related to this procurement. He stated that all advice and input he provided while serving as a consultant at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology was solely for Indonesia. “There is no benefit at all here, and all my input is for Indonesia as well. So the hope is that this can serve as a good precedent, but whatever it is, we are ready to face it,” he said. Ibam is confident of his innocence in this matter. Nevertheless, he claims to be prepared to face any decision from the panel of judges. “As a good citizen, I will still attend this verdict hearing. I won’t run away anywhere because I am fully convinced that I am not guilty, and I am awaiting the one that can free me here,” he stated. In the hearing held on Thursday (16/4), Ibam was previously demanded 15 years in prison, a fine of Rp 1 billion subsidiary 190 days imprisonment. The prosecutor also demanded that Ibam pay replacement money of Rp 16.92 billion subsidiary 7 years and 6 months imprisonment. The prosecutor believes Ibam is guilty of violating Article 603 jo. Article 20 of the Criminal Code jo. Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law No. 20 of 2001. Aggravating factors in the demands against the defendants include not supporting the government’s programme for clean and corruption-free state administration free from Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism (KKN). “Mitigating factors, the defendants have never been punished,” said the Public Prosecutor at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday (16/4). Ibam has also been designated as city detention due to his history of chronic heart disease. Ibam has been fitted with an electronic device (detector) to monitor his movements. “The suspect IBAM has been fitted with our device called a bracelet to detect the whereabouts of the person in question. Since he is not detained temporarily due to illness, it’s city detention,” said Head of Public Relations of the Attorney General’s Office Anang Supriatna to reporters at the Attorney General’s Office Complex, South Jakarta, Thursday (17/7/2025).