Nadiem Makarim hopes for acquittal in Chromebook corruption case
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019-2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, hopes that the panel of judges will deliver a verdict of full acquittal regarding the alleged Chromebook corruption case.
“My only hope from the panel’s decision is a full acquittal. There is no other option,” Nadiandum stated while providing a statement to the media during the reading of his defence plea (pleidoi) at the Corruption Crimes Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.
He assessed that various facts presented during the trial have simultaneously proven his innocence, making him legally entitled to be acquitted. He called for honesty and conscience from the judges to decide based on the facts presented in court. Legally, he believes all elements of the indictment have been refuted.
He noted that under corruption law, if even one of the four elements of corruption is not met, the defendant must be fully acquitted. Nadiem identified these four elements as: the element of state loss; the element of legal violation; the element of enriching oneself, others, or a corporation; and the element of mens rea, or criminal intent. “All four elements of corruption have been broken; they are unproven,” he said.
Nadiem was implicated as one of the defendants in an alleged corruption case involving the education digitalisation programme, specifically the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology between 2019 and 2022.
Previously, he faced a prison sentence demand of 18 years, a fine of Rp1 billion (subsidised by 190 days in prison), and restitution of Rp5.67 trillion (subsidised by 9 years in prison). In this case, Nadiem was accused of corruption causing state losses amounting to Rp2.18 trillion.
The corruption allegedly involved the procurement of ICT-based learning tools, such as Chromebook laptops and CDM for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 fiscal years, which did not comply with procurement planning and principles.
The actions of the founder of one of the technology companies were alleged to have been carried out in conjunction 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 include Rp1.56 trillion related to the education digitalisation programme at the Ministry, as well as 44.05 million US dollars (equivalent to approximately Rp621.39 billion) due to the procurement of unnecessary and non-beneficial CDM.
Through these actions, Nadiem is alleged to have received funds amounting to Rp809.59 billion from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) via PT Gojek Indonesia. It was noted that a large portion of PT AKAB’s funds originated from a Google investment worth 786.99 million US dollars. This was reflected in Nadiem’s wealth report (LHKPN) for 2022, which showed securities valued at Rp5.59 trillion.
For his actions, the former Minister faces charges under Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st KUHP (Criminal Code).