Nadiem Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison: Judge Cites Planned, Structured, and Systematic Crime

Former Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in a corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebooks and Chrome Device Management (CDM). The judge stated that the aggravating factor for the sentence was that Nadiem’s actions were planned, structured, and systematic, resulting in substantial state losses.

“The aggravating circumstances are that the act was committed in a planned, structured, and systematic manner, resulting in very large state losses and having a broad impact on the provision of education, especially for children in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions,” said chief judge Purwanto S Abdullah while reading the verdict at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (30/6/2026).

The judge stated that Nadiem’s actions contradicted the government’s commitment to eradicating corruption. The judge said that as a minister, Nadiem should have been a role model instead of abusing his position.

“The defendant’s actions are contrary to the commitment of the government and society in eradicating criminal acts of corruption. The defendant, as a minister who should have been a role model, instead abused his position,” he said.

“The defendant’s economic condition is very sufficient, so there is no economic reason that drove his actions,” he added.

The judge also read out mitigating factors. The judge said Nadiem had never been convicted before and was known as a figure who contributed to educational and technological innovation.

“The mitigating circumstances are that the defendant has never been sentenced before. The defendant was polite and cooperative during the trial, and the defendant was previously known as a figure who contributed to educational and technological innovation,” the judge said.

Nadiem Makarim was found guilty in this case. The judge sentenced Nadiem to imprisonment.

“Declares that the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption jointly,” said chief judge Purwanto S Abdullah.

“Sentences the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim therefore to imprisonment,” the judge added.

The judge stated that Nadiem was guilty of violating Article 604 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.