Nadiem Makarim Does Not Regret Joining the Government Despite Facing Criminal Prosecution
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology from 2019 to 2024, has stated that he does not regret joining the government, even though he faces criminal prosecution in an alleged corruption case involving Chromebooks.
He said that working for money can be done for a lifetime, whereas helping the nation’s next generation improve is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“So I could not possibly refuse the position or the mandate when it was offered. Even if I fail, the risk of failure, the risk of going to prison, I will take it because Indonesia’s future is more important than all these risks,” Nadiem said when met after the prosecutor’s reading of the indictment at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, he admitted to being disappointed, heartbroken, and devastated by the prosecution brought against him after all his service to the state.
However, he said, this does not mean he does not love Indonesia. According to him, one can feel heartbroken only if they truly love something.
Previously, Nadiem was charged with 18 years in prison, a fine of Rp1 billion subsidiary 190 days in prison, and restitution of Rp5.67 trillion subsidiary 9 years in prison.
With such a heavy criminal charge, Nadiem feels there is no hope left for young people in Indonesia who want to create and serve the nation.
Nevertheless, he invites all young people not to despair in monitoring the alleged Chromebook corruption case and to fight for the truth.
“Frankly, my hope and the hope of many people at this time is for an acquittal. But on the contrary, the heaviest punishment has been thrown at me, the heaviest. I have no words to explain why,” he said.
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 accused of corruption that harmed state finances by 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 principles of procurement.
Nadiem’s actions are accused of 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.
With those actions, Nadiem is alleged to have received money amounting to Rp809.59 billion from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) through PT Gojek Indonesia.
It is stated that most 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 punishment 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.