Ibrahim Arief's Lawyer Claims Sudden Emergence of Rp 16.9 Billion Restitution Demand: Prosecutors Betray Their Indictment

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The defence team for former Technology Consultant in the Ministry of Education and Culture environment, Ibrahim Arief, stated that the Rp 16.9 billion restitution demand suddenly appeared, even though it was not included in the indictment for the alleged corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops.

“In the case at hand, the restitution demand of Rp 16.9 billion suddenly emerged without ever being charged previously,” said one of Ibrahim’s lawyers while reading the plea in the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday (23/4/2026).

Ibrahim’s lawyer assessed that the Public Prosecutors (JPU) had betrayed their own indictment because the demand was inconsistent.

“The prosecutors’ demand has in fact betrayed their own indictment letter. As is commonly known, the demand must essentially be built consistently with the indictment letter, both in terms of the description of events, legal construction, and the limits of the actions for which the defendant is held accountable,” said the legal counsel.

This means that the demand must not exceed the indictment.

Ibrahim’s side emphasised that the Rp 16.9 billion only appeared when the JPU examined the tax expert.

However, the prosecutors did not prove the connection of this figure to the Chromebook procurement.

Furthermore, none of the witnesses in the trial stated that Ibrahim received money from the procurement.

“In this case, we also see that the prosecutors are trying to shift the burden of proof to the defendant,” said the lawyer.

In fact, the burden of proof lies with the JPU as the party that made the indictment.

Through his plea, Ibrahim requested that the panel of judges acquit him from the 15-year prison demand.

He repeatedly cried while reading his personal defence note or plea.

Ibam emphasised that he is not guilty and has been criminalised in this case.