Judge Grants Request to Change Nadiem's Status to House Arrest
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Panel of Judges has granted the request to change the status of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology for the 2019–2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, to house arrest from his previous status as a prison detainee.
Presiding Judge Purwanto Abdullah stated that the approval of the request considers Nadiem’s health condition.
“Changing the type of detention for the defendant shall take effect from 12 May 2026,” said the Presiding Judge during the defendant’s examination hearing at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday (11/5) evening.
Nevertheless, the Presiding Judge emphasised that Nadiem must remain within his residence for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is not permitted to leave his home except for certain activities.
The specified activities include undergoing surgery on Wednesday (13/5), subsequent medical treatment at the hospital, and attending court proceedings. For medical check-ups, prior written permission from the Presiding Judge is required, based on a written recommendation from a doctor.
While under house arrest, the Presiding Judge stated that Nadiem must also wear an electronic monitoring device on his body and report to the public prosecutor (JPU) twice a week.
Nadiem is required to surrender his Indonesian passport, any foreign passports (if any), and all other travel documents to the JPU, and is prohibited from communicating directly or indirectly with witnesses or other defendants in the alleged Chromebook corruption case.
Additionally, Nadiem is forbidden from receiving visitors other than immediate family members, registered lawyers in the case file, and medical personnel providing care. He must also grant access to prosecutors’ officers to inspect his residence to ensure compliance with house arrest conditions.
In the alleged corruption case of the education digitalisation programme involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology from 2019 to 2022, Nadiem is charged with corruption causing a state financial loss of Rp2.18 trillion.
The corruption is alleged to have been committed, among others, by implementing the procurement of information and communication technology-based learning facilities in the form of Chromebook laptops and CDM for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 fiscal years not in accordance with the procurement planning and procurement principles.
Nadiem’s actions are charged as being committed jointly with three other defendants in separate trials, namely Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, Mulyatsyah, and Sri Wahyuningsih, as well as Jurist Tan, who is currently a fugitive.
In detail, the state losses include Rp1.56 trillion related to the education digitalisation programme at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, as well as US$44.05 million or equivalent to Rp621.39 billion due to unnecessary and non-beneficial CDM procurement in the education digitalisation programme.
Through these actions, Nadiem is alleged to have received Rp809.59 billion originating from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) via PT Gojek Indonesia.
It is stated that most of PT AKAB’s funding sources come from a Google investment of US$786.99 million.
This can be seen from Nadiem’s wealth recorded in the State Organiser’s Wealth Report (LHKPN) for 2022, which includes an acquisition of securities worth Rp5.59 trillion.
For his actions, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology faces punishment as stipulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.