Nadiem Makarim attends Chromebook case hearing after falling ill
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister for the 2019–2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, attended the examination hearing in the alleged Chromebook corruption case at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, after falling ill.
Nadiem admitted to feeling significant pain in his body on Tuesday (5/5), which prevented him from attending the trial.
“I apologise, although I really wanted to attend the hearing, but I couldn’t yesterday,” Nadiem stated during the trial.
Therefore, Nadiem expressed thanks to the public prosecutors (JPU) who had taken him to the hospital for treatment.
After treatment, he said his condition had improved, allowing him to participate in the hearing.
Nevertheless, according to the medical summary from the doctor, Nadiem must undergo surgery as soon as possible.
Accordingly, Nadiem requested that his status be changed from prison detention to house/city arrest, asking that it be granted.
“The aim is so that I can recover and not disrupt the trial schedule. Thank you, because I also want this trial to be completed as quickly as possible,” he said.
Public prosecutor from the Attorney General’s Office, Roy Riady, stated that based on the physical examination on Tuesday (5/5) morning along with laboratory results, Nadiem’s condition was within normal limits and there was no fever.
“This means that in conclusion, Mr Nadiem was actually in a healthy condition and was allowed to leave the hospital temporarily, in this case to carry out the trial process,” the prosecutor said at the hearing at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (5/5).
Nevertheless, when his side was about to take Nadiem to the trial, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology complained of pain in the back of his body.
Nadiem Makarim is the defendant in the alleged corruption case of the education digitalisation programme in the form of the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the years 2019–2022.
The corruption is alleged to have been committed, among others, 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.
Nadiem’s actions are charged as being committed together 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 caused amount to 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 the procurement of unnecessary and unbeneficial CDM in the education digitalisation programme.
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 the source of funds for PT AKAB comes from Google’s 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 the acquisition of securities worth Rp5.59 trillion.
For his actions, Nadiem faces imprisonment 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 Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.