Nadiem Sad over Former Kemendikbudristek Tech Consultant Ibam's 4-Year Prison Sentence Despite Being Innocent

Jakarta – Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim has voiced his concern over the four-year prison sentence imposed on Ibrahim Arief, or Ibam, a former technology consultant for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, in a corruption case related to the procurement of Chromebook laptops. Nadiem considers the four-year sentence unjust for someone he regards as innocent. “My concern stems from hearing Bang Ibam’s verdict yesterday. It’s very saddening for me that someone who is completely innocent could be sentenced to four years,” he said at the Corruption Court in Jakarta on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. Nadiem stated that Ibam should have been acquitted, as evidenced by the dissenting opinion from two judges in the trial. He views those differing opinions as the factual account of the proceedings. “If we read the dissenting opinion from the judges, it’s very clear—that’s the version of the trial facts. So I hope the public truly examines the decision from those two dissenting judges because the truth, as they stated, lies there,” he explained. Previously, the Corruption Court panel sentenced the former technology consultant, Ibrahim Arief or Ibam, to four years in prison and a fine of Rp500 million. The panel stipulated that the fine must be paid within one month after the decision gains legal force. “The defendant Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam is hereby sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp500 million,” said the Chief Judge of the Panel, Purwanto S. Abdullah, on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.