Nadiem Apologises for Inability to Attend Continuation Hearing Yesterday: Today I Am Ready...

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim has apologised for being unable to attend the continuation hearing in the alleged corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops on Tuesday (5/5/2026). However, Nadiem stated that he is ready to attend the hearing today, Wednesday (6/5/2026). “I apologise, although I very much wanted to attend the hearing, I was unable to do so yesterday. Today I have received treatment. Today I will try my best to attend the hearing,” Nadiem said during the hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court, on Wednesday. “Yesterday I experienced quite severe pain. So, I would like to thank the prosecutors for taking me to the hospital for treatment,” Nadiem explained. Before the panel of judges, Nadiem requested that his application for the transfer of his detention be granted as soon as possible because he needs to undergo surgery. “According to the medical summary from the doctor, I must undergo surgery immediately after this. And I humbly request that the application for the transfer of detention status be granted,” Nadiem stated. The agenda for examining expert witnesses for mitigation was continued today with the examination of the former Chairman of the BPK, Agung Firman Sampurna. In this case, former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim, along with three other defendants, is alleged to have caused state financial losses amounting to Rp 2.1 trillion. Nadiem is charged with enriching himself by Rp 809 billion. This amount is said to stem from Google’s investment in Gojek or PT AKAB. Meanwhile, Mulyatsyah is alleged to have received SGD 120,000 and USD 150,000. Nadiem is accused of misusing his authority, thereby making Google the sole controller of ICT procurement, including laptops, in Indonesia’s technology ecosystem. This act was carried out by Nadiem together with three other defendants, namely former Technology Consultant in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology environment, Ibrahim Arief; Director of SMP in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology from 2020–2021 as well as Budget User Representative (KPA), Mulyatsyah; and Director of SD in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology from 2020–2021 as well as KPA, Sri Wahyuningsih.