Nadiem Makarim Faces Verdict in Chromebook Corruption Trial Today

Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019-2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, is scheduled to attend a verdict hearing for the alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of Chromebooks at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (30/6). According to the Case Tracking Information System of the Central Jakarta District Court, the trial is scheduled to begin at 10:00 WIB in the Muhammad Hatta Ali Room. The session will be presided over by Chief Judge Purwanto Abdullah. Nadiem is implicated in the alleged corruption case of the education digitalisation programme, which included the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management licences within the Ministry of Education and Culture for the 2019-2022 fiscal years. In this case, public prosecutors previously demanded a prison sentence of 18 years against Nadiem. In addition to the physical punishment, Nadiem was also ordered to pay a fine of Rp1 billion, subsidiary to 190 days in prison, as well as restitution amounting to Rp5.67 trillion, subsidiary to nine years of confinement. The indictment states that the corrupt actions caused state losses of up to Rp2.18 trillion. The alleged corruption originated from the implementation of the procurement of information and communication technology-based learning facilities in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 fiscal years. The project was deemed not in accordance with planning and violated the principles of government procurement of goods and services. Nadiem is suspected of committing these acts together with three other defendants in separate case files, namely Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, Mulyatsyah, and Sri Wahyuningsih. In addition, another individual, Jurist Tan, remains a fugitive. During the trial, allegations emerged that Nadiem received Rp809.59 billion from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa through PT Gojek Indonesia. A large portion of PT AKAB’s funds was said to originate from a Google investment worth US$786.99 million. Indications of the acquisition of these funds were also linked to Nadiem’s 2022 State Officials’ Wealth Report, which recorded assets in the form of securities worth Rp5.59 trillion. For his actions, the former Minister of Education and Culture faces criminal charges as stipulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) point 1 of the Criminal Code.