Nadiem Makarim Falls Ill, Chromebook Corruption Trial Adjourned
The trial continuation in the alleged corruption case regarding the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) with former Education, Culture, and Science Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim as the defendant has been adjourned. The hearing was postponed because Nadiem fell ill and requires hospitalisation.
“The trial agenda for today was to be expert examination. However, because the defendant is unwell, Your Honour, we will submit a hospital medical certificate,” said the prosecutor at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Jalan Bungur Raya, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (12 March 2026).
The original trial agenda for Nadiem today was expert examination by the public prosecutor (JPU). The prosecution was planning to present two experts, namely a criminal law expert and an administrative law expert.
“We respectfully request that the expert examination be adjourned to the next trial session, Your Honour,” said the prosecutor.
Nadiem’s lawyer, Zaid Mushafi, stated that Nadiem would undergo a health check on Saturday (14 March). Subsequently, Nadiem would be scheduled for medical treatment involving surgery on Tuesday (17 March).
“According to the hospital’s recommendation, from 17 March onwards, the treatment will last approximately 14 days. However, it will depend on the recovery period after the medical procedure, Your Honour,” said Zaid.
The judge panel stated they were still deliberating regarding the request for suspension or transfer of Nadiem’s detention. Nadiem’s trial was adjourned.
“So we are adjourning to Monday, 30 March, and this also depends on the defendant’s health condition,” said the presiding judge Purwanto S Abdullah.
Nadiem Testifies for 11 Hours Non-Stop
Previously, Nadiem Anwar Makarim was presented as the crown witness in this case’s trial. Nadiem admitted to being exhausted after providing testimony for approximately 11 hours non-stop.
The trial was held at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (9 March). The defendants in the trial are Mulyatsyah as Director of SMP of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science 2020; Sri Wahyuningsih as Director of Elementary Schools of the Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Primary and Secondary Education for 2020-2021; and Ibrahim Arief, also known as Ibam, as a consultant.
“It was extremely exhausting today because I was the sole witness and I’m not sure how many hours it was, 11 hours non-stop as a witness,” said Nadiem Makarim after the trial.
Nadiem expressed confusion about being accused of conspiring in this case together with Sri, Mulyatsyah, and Ibam. According to him, there is no evidence showing communication about Chromebook between himself and the defendants.
“If there was a conspiracy, there should be evidence of it in WhatsApp messages, so all the defendants, myself, and perhaps all trial participants were shaking their heads because we are charged under Article 55, yet we have absolutely no evidence of communicating about this Chromebook issue, conspiracy,” said Nadiem.
Nadiem stated that the state loss of Rp 2.1 trillion in this case is merely the prosecution’s assumption. He stated that truth would find its way.
“Although this was an extremely exhausting day, thank goodness truth cannot be suppressed, no matter what is thrown at it, no matter what slander regarding tax returns, slander regarding receipt of Rp 809 billion, but Allah always listens, Allah will always illuminate the truth. No matter how it is manipulated, no matter what slander, truth always finds a way out,” said Nadiem.
“Because from what I saw in this testimony, there really is no case because there is no loss, no agreement, no violation of regulations. So really everyone was just shaking their heads as if there must be something wrong,” he continued.