Nadiem Makarim Requests Change in Detention Status After Surgery
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019–2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, has asked the panel of judges to change his detention status from a state detention centre (rutan) to house/city detention during his recovery from illness.
“Only until I recover, after recovery I am ready to return to the detention status in the rutan, no problem. This is just so I can recover,” said Nadiem during the witness examination hearing at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.
He admitted that he is currently still under hospital treatment in preparation for surgery for the illness he is suffering from, which will take place in the near future.
However, he still attended the trial so that his case can be resolved quickly, even though he was not recommended by the doctor to leave the hospital.
Nadiem’s lawyer, Zaid Mushafi, stated that the change in detention status is necessary because his client requires a sterile environment after surgery.
In response to Nadiem’s request, Chief Judge Purwanto Abdullah said that they will first assess Nadiem’s condition after surgery before making a decision regarding the change in detention status.
“If the defendant’s condition allows the examination to be completed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we will complete it. Then, after that, the panel of judges will decide on the ongoing status,” said the Chief Judge.
In the alleged corruption case of the education digitalisation programme involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in 2019-2022, Nadiem is accused of corruption that harms state finances amounting to Rp2.18 trillion.
The corruption is alleged to have been committed, among others, by implementing 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.
In detail, the state losses caused amount to Rp1.56 trillion related to the education 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 for the education digitalisation programme.
With that act, Nadiem is alleged to have received money amounting to Rp809.59 billion originating from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) through PT Gojek Indonesia.
It is stated that most of the source of funds for PT AKAB comes from Google’s investment worth US$786.99 million.
This can be seen from Nadiem’s wealth recorded in the State Organiser’s Wealth Report (LHKPN) for 2022, which includes the acquisition of securities worth Rp5.59 trillion.