Nadiem Makarim Ready to Face Prosecution in Chromebook Case: I Hope for Acquittal

Jakarta, VIVA – Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology from 2019 to 2024, has stated that he is prepared to face the prosecution hearing in the alleged Chromebook corruption case. He mentioned that he has mentally prepared himself and is unsure what more needs to be proven, as all the trial facts have been clear thus far. “My hope is for a demand of acquittal because the trial facts are very clear,” Nadiem said when met before the prosecution hearing began at the Corruption Court in the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. Nevertheless, he will observe whether the trial facts will be considered by the public prosecutors (JPU). Thus, Nadiem only needs to hear the Prosecutor’s Office’s views on the trial facts in the upcoming prosecution hearing. “Whether the trial facts will form the basis of the prosecution or be ignored and disregarded,” he stated. After the prosecution hearing, he will head directly to the hospital for surgery that evening. Ahead of the prosecution hearing against Nadiem, the courtroom was filled with visitors wearing white clothing. Accompanying Nadiem was his wife, Franka Franklin, who also wore a white shirt. Nadiem’s parents, Nono Anwar Makarim and Atika Algadrie, were also present. In the alleged corruption case of the educational digitalisation programme involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology from 2019 to 2022, Nadiem is accused of corruption that harmed the state finances by Rp2.18 trillion. The corruption is alleged to have been committed, among other things, 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 accused of 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 unnecessary and unbeneficial CDM in the educational digitalisation programme.