Ibrahim Arief's Camp to Wait Before Pursuing Allegations of Intimidation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The camp of former technology consultant for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), Ibrahim Arief, will wait for the verdict in the alleged corruption case of Chromebook laptop procurement before following up on the alleged intimidation by investigators against Ibrahim. “I think for now, the legal steps provided by the legal advisory team to Ibam are sufficient. We are in a position to wait for the decision on 12 May,” said Ibrahim’s lawyer, Afrian Bondjol, when giving a statement after the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (28/4/2026). Afrian explained that his side has conveyed all objections through the defence, including the intimidation by investigators. “Yes, all our objections have been conveyed in the courtroom. Of course, that can be considered by the Panel,” said Afrian. Ibrahim himself hopes to be acquitted in this case. He assessed that his side has provided maximum defence. “My hope is, in accordance with the trial facts, I can be decided free,” said Ibam, a familiar nickname for Ibrahim, after the trial. “And this becomes a reference, or precedent, for those who want to help the country so they don’t have to be afraid with their contributions to this nation,” Ibam added. When reading his personal plea on Thursday (23/4/2026) last week, Ibam revealed the intimidation he experienced during the investigation process. He claimed to have been contacted by someone who claimed to be an intermediary for the investigators. This intermediary conveyed that Ibam should make a ‘statement upwards’ so that his case would not be expanded. “On 24 June 2025, I was contacted by an information intermediary who verbally conveyed that he was asked by someone in the ongoing investigation process to tell me to make, I quote, a ‘statement pointing upwards’ and if I refuse, the case will ‘we expand’,” said Ibrahim when reading his personal plea. At the time the message arrived, Ibam was still a witness.