Nadiem Makarim resumes "Chromebook" trial after fourth surgery
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019-2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, has resumed proceedings in the alleged corruption case regarding the procurement of Chromebook laptops in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology’s (Kemendikbudristek) education digitalisation programme, after undergoing his fourth surgical procedure due to his illness.
“About six days ago, I underwent my fourth surgery, and it turned out there was significant regression, so I have to start over from the beginning,” Nadiem said during the expert examination hearing at the Corruption Court in the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.
Consequently, he will undergo another surgery in the future once a medical summary report is available.
During his intensive care and fourth surgery, Nadiem’s detention status was suspended from 14-29 March 2026.
Public prosecutor (JPU) from the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung), Roy Riady, explained that Nadiem was hospitalised after undergoing intensive treatment a few days prior.
“Today, the defendant is undergoing inpatient treatment,” Roy said during the hearing at the Corruption Court in the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday (12/3).
In the case, Nadiem is charged with 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 charged as being committed jointly with three other defendants in separate trials, namely 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 education digitalisation programme at Kemendikbudristek, as well as US$44.05 million or equivalent to Rp621.39 billion due to the procurement of unnecessary and unbeneficial CDM in the education digitalisation programme.
Through these actions, Nadiem is alleged to have received money amounting to Rp809.59 billion originating from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) via PT Gojek Indonesia.
It is stated that most of PT AKAB’s funding sources come from Google’s investment of US$786.99 million.
This can be seen from Nadiem’s wealth recorded in the 2022 LHKPN, which includes asset gains in the form of securities worth Rp5.59 trillion.
For his actions, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology faces imprisonment as stipulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law No. 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.