Nadiem: Allegation of Rp809 Billion Self-Enrichment in Laptop Corruption Case Is Pure Slander
Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology under Indonesia’s seventh president Joko Widodo, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, has denied ever receiving Rp809 billion in profits linked to the Chromebook laptop procurement scandal.
He made the statement during the continuation of the trial for the alleged corruption case involving Chromebook laptop procurement at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (23 February).
Nadiem said the allegation of Rp809 billion in self-enrichment was purely a business transaction between PT Gojek Indonesia and PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (AKAB).
“That was entirely a business matter and had nothing to do with Chromebooks. That’s why even the witnesses from Gojek were confused, asking why they were summoned for this case. Because the Google transaction was purely a business interest, involving extensive collaboration between GoTo and Google, from which Gojek received no additional benefit,” Nadiem told reporters.
Nadiem described the allegation of Rp809 billion in self-enrichment as slander. He said not a single witness had proved that he received any money.
“And what is even more astonishing is that regarding the Rp809 billion, it was proven today that it is nothing but slander. All witnesses from GoTo, from the notary, finance, and corporate sides, confirmed that there is not a single piece of evidence that even a penny of that money was received by me,” he said.
“They also stated that I received absolutely no benefit from the 809 billion. So where did this narrative of 809 billion as state losses come from? I am utterly bewildered,” he added.
Furthermore, Nadiem said the witnesses presented during the hearing dismantled several narratives that had previously been circulating.
“But thankfully, today the conflict of interest with Google was dismantled, the allegation of inflated laptop prices was dismantled, and all data from every vendor has been presented. So I am at a loss as to what arguments remain. Once again, I humbly ask for the prayers of the entire public,” he said.
The hearing was held with the agenda of examining witnesses. Ten witnesses were presented, including the Commissioner of PT Gojek Tokopedia Tbk, Andre Sulistyo, and Gojek co-founder Kevin Aluwi.
In this case, Nadiem Makarim is charged with causing state financial losses of Rp2.1 trillion in the alleged corruption case.
The figure comprises Rp1,567,888,662,716.74 (Rp1.5 trillion) from inflated Chromebook prices and US$44,054,426, or approximately Rp621,387,678,730.00 (Rp621 billion) — at an exchange rate of Rp14,105 per US dollar — for the procurement of unnecessary and non-functional CDM systems.
Meanwhile, in his legal objection, Nadiem expressed bewilderment at the prosecution’s accusation that he profited Rp809 billion, firmly asserting that no evidence supports the claim.
Nadiem is charged alongside Sri Wahyuningsih, Director of Primary Schools at the Directorate General of Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education for 2020–2021; Mulyatsyah, Director of Junior Secondary Schools at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology in 2020; and Ibrahim Arief, an individual consultant for the Ministry’s School Resource Management Technology Infrastructure Improvement Design.
The prosecution has charged Nadiem and co-defendants under Article 2 paragraph 1 or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law, read together with Article 55 paragraph 1 point 1 of the Criminal Code.