Nadiem Makarim references Tom Lembong case during plea in corruption trial
Jakarta - The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019–2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, referenced the legal case involving Tom Lembong while delivering his plea in court. According to Nadiem, the case against former Minister of Trade Thomas Trikasih Lembong regarding sugar import corruption is part of a broader series of criminalisation cases.
“The train of criminalisation began long before me. Mr Tom, Ms Ira, Amsal, Ibam, and dozens of others who have not yet been released to this day,” Nadiely stated during the hearing at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. Consequently, Nadiem asserted that the public outcry outside the courtroom did not originate solely from his case involving alleged Chromebook corruption.
Nadiem noted that reports of various irregular cases in Indonesia have gained international attention. He remarked that he had never seen such a large number of anti-corruption activists simultaneously sounding a loud alarm for Indonesia’s law enforcement agencies as they are doing now. He expressed that he believed he was standing to deliver his defence not as a victim, but as a witness to what is happening to too many good people in Indonesia.
Nadiem emphasised that the alleged Chromebook corruption case is no longer just about one individual being wronged. “Whether I am imprisoned or not, whether I am impoverished or not, that is in the hands of God and the honourable panel of judges,” he said. He warned that legal uncertainty is a primary factor contributing to the decline of the stock market and the value of the Rupiah. He added that the business community views the Chromebook case as a bad precedent because they do not understand the grounds upon which the case was brought to court.
“Legal certainty is the main pillar of economic growth, and this case is one of its greatest tests,” Nadiem stated. He concluded that the judges’ decision could either restore public anxiety and provide new hope or further erode the already fragile public trust.
Nadiem Makarim is one of the defendants in the 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 during 2019–2022. In this case, Nadiem is accused of corruption causing state losses of Rp2.18 trillion. The corruption allegedly involved conducting the procurement of ICT-based learning tools for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 fiscal years in violation of procurement planning and principles.
The founder of one of the technology companies is accused of acting in concert with three other defendants in separate trials, namely Ibrahim Arief (alias Ibam), Mulyatsyah, and Sri Wahyuningsih, as well as Jurist Tan, who remains a fugitive. Specifically, the state losses include Rp1.56 trillion related to the education digitalisation programme, as well as 44.05 million US dollars (equivalent to approximately Rp621.39 billion) due to the procurement of unnecessary and non-beneficial CDM. It is alleged that Nadiem received 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 786.99 million US dollar investment from Google. This is reflected in Nadiem’s 2022 wealth report (LHKPN), which shows securities valued at Rp5.59 trillion. For his actions, the former minister faces criminal penalties under the Law on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes.