Nadiem Reveals Deteriorating Health at Chromebook Procurement Trial, Requires Intensive Care

JAKARTA – Former Mendikbudristek Nadiem Makarim has said his health has deteriorated and that he may require intensive care and possibly surgery.

He made the remark when Chair of the Panel of Judges Purwanto S. Abdullah asked about his health before the continuation of the trial in the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops.

‘Your Honour, I am ready to face the hearing today. However, based on yesterday’s MRI results, the report is not good; there is a setback in my recovery,’ Nadiem told the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

Nadiem said he had a reinfection at the site of a previous operation inside his body.

‘There is a new internal reinfection, in addition to external wounds. So it is likely that I will need intensive care, perhaps treatment, perhaps another operation as in the months-long previous operation,’ he said.

‘That’s fine. So, for this hearing, if you feel unwell, please inform us. Do not push yourself,’ Judge Purwanto replied.

‘For the next steps, if there is anything, you can report promptly to the detention centre or the prosecutor’s office for action,’ the judge added.

It is known that Nadiem underwent surgery at the end of December 2025.

This health situation led to the reading of the indictment on 23 December 2025 being postponed.

Nadiem underwent post-operative care for 21 days.

He was able to attend the indictment hearing again on Monday, 5 January 2026.

Nadiem is charged with enriching himself by Rp 809 billion.

The figure is said to originate from Google’s investment in Gojek or PT AKAB.

Nadiem is said to have abused his power, making Google the sole controller of ICT procurement, including laptops, in Indonesia’s technology ecosystem.

This was done by steering the procurement review toward a single product, namely Chrome-based devices, which are Google’s products.

Nadiem carried out these actions together with three other defendants: Ibrahim Arief, a former Technology Consultant within Kemendikbudristek; Mulyatsyah, Director of SMP Kemendikbudristek in 2020–2021 and also the Spending Authority (KPA); and Sri Wahyuningsih, Director of Primary Schools Kemendikbudristek in 2020–2021, who also served as KPA.