Nadiem: My Criminal Demands Are Greater Than Those for Murderers and Terrorists

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019-2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, considers the criminal demand against him in the alleged Chromebook corruption case to be greater than the sentences usually imposed on murderers and terrorists. He explained that the 18-year prison demand, combined with a subsidiary demand for repayment of funds equivalent to 9 years in prison, totals nearly 27 years in prison. “Today, I am effectively being demanded 27 years, a record. Greater than various other criminals,” Nadiem stated when met after the reading of the indictment letter at the Corruption Court in the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday. Nadiem expressed confusion. “Why is my demand greater than for murderers? My demand greater than for terrorists?” he said. Thus, he views the high demand as a form of fear by the public prosecutors if he is acquitted by the panel of judges. “Well, this might be because in the course of the trial, it is already clear that I am not guilty,” he stated. Previously, Nadiem was demanded a prison sentence of 18 years, a fine of Rp1 billion subsidiary 190 days in prison, and repayment of funds of Rp5.67 trillion subsidiary 9 years in prison. In the case of alleged corruption in the education 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 causing state financial losses of 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 principles of procurement. 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 non-beneficial CDM in the education digitalisation programme. Through these actions, Nadiem is alleged to have received money amounting to Rp809.59 billion from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) via PT Gojek Indonesia. It is stated that most of the source of funds for PT AKAB comes from Google’s investment of 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. For his actions, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology faces penalties as regulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.