Nadiem Makarim's Response After Being Demanded 18 Years in Prison

Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim has been demanded an 18-year prison sentence. Prosecutors are convinced that Nadiem is guilty in the corruption case regarding the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM). Here is Nadiem’s response to the demand.

Nadiem considers the 18-year prison demand plus a subsidiary payment of replacement money in the form of 9 years’ imprisonment to be a record and exceeding demands for other criminal acts.

“A record. Bigger than various other criminals. 18 plus 9,” said Nadiem Anwar Makarim after the prosecution hearing at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (13/5/2026).

“For what mistake? There is no administrative error at all, no element of corruption at all in my case, and the entire society already knows. So I’m confused. Why? Why is my demand bigger than that for murderers? My demand is bigger than that for terrorists?” he continued.

On the other hand, Nadiem also thanked all parties who have supported him.

“Thank you to the ojol drivers, thank you to the teachers, thank you to all the MBKM alumni. I don’t feel alone standing here because there are you all. I feel my shoulder is held by all the people who are part of our previous struggle,” he said.

Previously reported, prosecutors are convinced that Nadiem is guilty in the corruption case regarding the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM).

“Prosecuting so that the panel of judges declares that the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim has been proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing the criminal act of corruption carried out jointly,” said prosecutor Roy Riady when reading the indictment at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (13/5).

“Imposing a sentence on the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim therefore with a prison sentence of 18 years,” added the prosecutor.

Nadiem is demanded to pay a fine of Rp 1 billion subsidiary 190 days of imprisonment. In addition, prosecutors also demand Nadiem to pay replacement money of Rp 809,596,125,000 (809 billion) and Rp 4,871,469,603,758 (4.8 trillion) or a total of Rp 5,681,066,728,758 (5.6 trillion).

Prosecutors state that Nadiem’s assets can be confiscated and auctioned to cover the replacement money. However, if insufficient, it will be replaced with 9 years’ imprisonment.

Prosecutors are convinced that Nadiem is guilty of violating Article 603 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Criminal Act in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.