Nadiem Ill Again, Chromebook Corruption Trial Postponed Once More

The continuation of the trial in the alleged corruption case regarding the procurement of Chromebooks and Chrome Device Management (CDM), with defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim, was decided to be postponed today. Nadiem’s health became a point of discussion between the lawyers and the public prosecutors (JPU).

Initially, the Chief Judge of the Central Jakarta Corruption Court Panel, Purwanto S Abdullah, inquired about Nadiem’s condition. Prosecutor Roy Riady explained that last night, specifically after the trial, he received information that Nadiem was complaining of illness.

“Very well. We ask the Prosecutor regarding the defendant; it’s almost 3 o’clock now, so how about his attendance?” asked the judge.

“Very well, Your Honour. First of all, we apologise for the delay in the trial schedule, which was supposed to be at 10 a.m., because we need to convey in this trial that after last night’s session, we received information about Mr Nadiem Anwar Makarim’s complaint of illness, so he was taken to Abdi Waluyo Hospital,” replied the prosecutor.

“Then, on that night of 4 May 2026, based on the doctor’s certificate, which we will show later along with the outpatient patient summary. The conclusion of the medical statement is that the patient named Nadiem Anwar Makarim has complaints in the back area, feeling pain like that, so he requires clean treatment, and thus he was admitted to Abdi Waluyo Hospital,” added the prosecutor.

Subsequently, the prosecutor received information from the defence lawyers that Nadiem could not attend today’s trial. The prosecutor then went to Abdi Waluyo Hospital to confirm this.

“On this day, 5 May, as per the scheduled trial, we received information that the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim could not attend the trial. Then, I, as the Head of the Prosecution Team, along with prosecution members, met one of his lawyers, Mr Zaid, there; we met the doctor directly treating Mr Nadiem Anwar Makarim and communicated, and I personally saw the defendant’s patient condition,” stated the prosecutor.

Based on the doctor’s examination results, the prosecutor clarified, Nadiem’s condition that morning was stated to be healthy and normal. Nadiem was actually allowed to leave the hospital to attend the trial.

“We received the medical statement on 5 May, first in its conclusion: the defendant, patient named Nadiem Anwar Makarim, has no fever, and his physical examination this morning is within normal limits,” revealed the prosecutor.

“That means, in conclusion, Mr Nadiem Anwar Makarim is actually in a healthy condition, so he is permitted to leave the hospital temporarily, in this case to carry out the trial process, and we also received Mr Nadiem’s laboratory results, which in conclusion are normal,” he added.

When about to be taken to court, Nadiem reportedly complained of pain again.

“Then, when I was about to take him to this trial, Mr Nadiem Anwar Makarim conveyed his complaint of pain in his back area, so I confirmed again with the doctor. The doctor said that it is very subjective if the patient feels pain, but in principle, the doctor stated that he is in a normal and healthy condition,” said the prosecutor.

Hearing this explanation, the panel of judges decided to shift the trial to Wednesday, 6 May, the next day.

“Very well, so according to the Prosecutor’s statement about the defendant’s condition, who is still complaining of pain at the moment. For the next session, we cannot continue the examination today, and we schedule it for tomorrow, Wednesday, 6 May 2026. There is still an opportunity for the advocates to present witnesses or experts. If his condition can improve, we hope it can be in the morning as well, at 10 a.m. as usual,” said the judge.

Nadiem’s lawyer, Zaid Mushafi, stated that Nadiem was indeed complaining of pain in the back part of his body. He said that treatment would be carried out maximally so that tomorrow Nadiem could attend the trial.

“Before closing, is there anything else the Prosecutor wishes to convey? That’s all. Advocates?” asked the judge.

“As we have already conveyed, Your Honour, that the defendant is feeling pain in the back area. Indeed, there is a heartbeat or temperature check, but what he feels is pain because I also entered the room earlier; that pain he feels is in the back area,” explained Zaid.

“Of course, secondly, we greatly appreciate the quick action from the JPU last night in immediately taking him to the ER. Indeed, he was directly taken to the ER last night by the prosecution team, and we greatly appreciate that so that appropriate handling could be done,” he continued.

Nadiem is being prosecuted for corruption charges that harmed the state finances by Rp2.18 trillion related to the education digitalisation programme in the form of Chromebook laptop and CDM procurement within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) from 2019 to 2022.

The corruption is alleged to have been committed, among other things, by carrying out 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.

This act was carried out together with other defendants in separate trials, namely Ibrahim Arief, Mulyatsyah, and Sri Wahyuningsih, as well as Jurist Tan, who is currently still at large.

In detail, the state losses include Rp1.56 trillion related to the education digitalisation programme at Kemendikbudristek, as well as US$44.05 million or equivalent to Rp621.39 billion due to unnecessary and unbeneficial CDM procurement.

Through these actions, Nadiem is alleged to have received money amounting to Rp809.59 billion originating from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) through PT Gojek Indonesia. It is stated that the majority of PT AKAB’s funding sources come from Google’s investment of US$786.99 million.