Nadiem Makarim Placed Under House Arrest: What He Can and Cannot Do?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim has officially been placed under house arrest after the panel of judges granted the request to change the type of detention in the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops.

The decision was read out directly during the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) on Monday (11/5/2026) evening.

Previously, Nadiem was detained at the Salemba State Detention Centre Branch of the South Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Office.

Head of the Legal Information Centre (Kapuspenkum) of the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung), Anang Supriatna, stated that the public prosecutors had implemented the panel of judges’ determination on the same night after the trial concluded.

“Last night, the prosecution team implemented the panel of judges’ determination, where NM was transferred to house arrest, and it was carried out by us last night,” said Anang at the Kejagung building in Jakarta on Tuesday (12/5/2026).

Presiding Judge Purwanto S Abdullah emphasised that during house arrest, Nadiem is required to remain at his residence for 24 full hours every day.

The judge prohibited Nadiem from leaving the house for any reason, except for three specific purposes: undergoing surgery on 13 May 2026, medical check-ups with written permission from the panel of judges, and attending court hearings.

“Changing the type of detention for the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim from detention at the Salemba State Detention Centre Branch of the South Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Office to house arrest at the defendant’s residence,” stated the judge during the trial.

“He cannot leave the house without permission from the panel of judges and the public prosecutors. There must be permission,” said Anang.

The panel of judges also left open the possibility of installing an electronic monitoring device on Nadiem during house arrest.

The judge mentioned that the installation could be carried out if facilities are available at the Central Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Office.

In the determination, the judge also warned that the monitoring device must not be damaged or tampered with.

“The defendant is prohibited from removing, damaging, manipulating, or interfering with the function of the device,” said the judge.