Nadiem Makarim attends "Chromebook" case trial using IV drip
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology from 2019 to 2024, attended the trial for the alleged Chromebook corruption case at the Corruption Court in the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday, with an IV drip in his hand.
During the trial, he stated that he was still receiving hospital treatment in preparation for surgery for his illness, scheduled to take place soon.
“Although my doctor did not recommend that I leave, due to the needs of the trial and since I am not permitted to attend via Zoom, I am here to ensure the trial process is not delayed,” Nadiem said.
Nevertheless, he mentioned that his treating doctor advised him to return to the hospital immediately after the trial to resume his treatment.
Therefore, Nadiem requested the Panel of Judges to allow him to join subsequent hearings via the Zoom platform.
In response, Chief Judge Purwanto Abdullah said he would first assess Nadiem’s condition after the surgery.
If Nadiem’s detention status is suspended post-surgery as before, the Panel of Judges cannot conduct examination hearings, even via Zoom.
“So the panel’s stance remains. If the defendant’s status is suspended, we will not conduct examinations even via Zoom,” the Chief Judge stated.
Previously, Nadiem’s examination hearings had been postponed twice because the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology was ill and hospitalised.
During those postponements, Nadiem’s detention status was suspended from Saturday (25/4) to Sunday (3/5).
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 state financial losses 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 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 for the education digitalisation programme.
Through these actions, Nadiem is alleged to have received Rp809.59 billion from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) via PT Gojek Indonesia.
It is stated that most of the funds from PT AKAB originated 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 asset gains in the form of securities worth Rp5.59 trillion.
For his actions, Nadiem faces punishment under Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law No. 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.