Chromebook Corruption Trial Postponed Due to Nadiem Makarim's Illness

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The trial in the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops, with the defendant being former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Makarim, was postponed today, Wednesday (22/4/2026).

The Presiding Judge of the Panel, Purwanto S Abdullah, stated that today’s hearing was postponed because Nadiem’s legal counsel did not attend and Nadiem himself had fallen ill. 

“This is being postponed not just because of the absence of the advocate, but also due to the defendant’s health condition, which today may not allow the trial to proceed,” said Judge Purwanto during the hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday.

“So, we’re setting a longer time for the defendant’s opportunity to recover his health. We’re postponing it to Monday,” Purwanto added.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor (JPU) stated that Nadiem was actually already in the court holding room.

However, when asked to come up to the courtroom, Nadiem claimed to be ill. 

The prosecutors also said they had not coordinated with Nadiem’s legal counsel regarding his health condition.

“(Nadiem) is in the holding room downstairs at the court, but when we invited him up, he said he was in a state of illness. We haven’t received an official doctor’s note yet; we’re also being cautious,” said Head of the Prosecution Team Roy Riady.

During the hearing, the judge requested an explanation from the doctor at the South Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Detention Centre who monitors Nadiem’s condition daily.

The medical team confirmed that Nadiem was indeed ill but capable of attending the trial.

The panel of judges did not order the JPU to bring the defendant to the courtroom.

In the end, from the time the hearing opened at 15:10 WIB until it was about to close at 15:19 WIB, neither Nadiem nor his legal counsel appeared in the room.