Nadiem Makarim Faces Prosecution Hearing in Alleged Chromebook Corruption Case Today
Jakarta, VIVA – The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) for the 2019-2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, is attending the reading of the prosecution’s demand in the alleged Chromebook corruption case at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.
Nadiem’s lawyer, Ari Yusuf Amir, stated that his client is prepared to face the prosecution hearing and hopes for an acquittal upon consideration of the trial facts.
“Because the prosecutor’s duty is to uphold the law and justice, not just to punish people,” Ari told ANTARA.
Ari mentioned that after the prosecution hearing, Nadiem will undergo surgery in the afternoon for an illness he is suffering from.
On Tuesday, 12 May, he said, his client had undergone preparations at the hospital before the surgery, including condition checks, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and others.
In the alleged corruption case involving the educational 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, Nadiem is charged with corruption that harms the state finances by Rp2.18 trillion.
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 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 educational 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 CDM that was unnecessary and not beneficial for the educational digitalisation programme.
With those 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 most of the source of funds for PT AKAB comes from Google’s investment worth 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.