Nadiem trial: Witness reveals that Directors-General up to the Minister cannot intervene in procurement pricing

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The director of SMP Kemendikbudristek for 2020–2021 and also the Budget User (KPA) Mulyatsyah said that product pricing in the e-catalog can only be set by the commitment-making official (PPK) and LKPP. The superiors of the PPK, whether at director level or minister, cannot intervene in the price selection chosen by the PPK. This was conveyed by Mulyatsyah when testifying in the ongoing trial of alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops for the defendant former Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim. “Sir, Mr Mul, Ms Ning, is it possible that the numbers could be set so that the e-katalog becomes that price?” asked Nadiem, in a hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday (5/3/2026). Nadiem emphasised his question to Mulyatsyah who has been a defendant in a separate file. “Director, right? The boss of the PPK, one above him. The KPA. Could you set the final price that is clicked by the PPK through the LKPP e-catalog?” asked Nadiem again. “Of course not,” Mul replied. Nadiem asked the same of Sri Wahyuningsih, the Director of SD Kemendikbudristek in 2020–2021 and also the KPA, who was presented as a witness. “Not having authority there,” Sri replied. Nadiem asked again, confirming whether the superiors of Mulyatsyah and Sri could intervene in the e-catalog price selection. “Can a Dirjen have the ability to intervene in that?” Nadiem asked. Sri and Mulyatsyah answered in unison: no. “I think that answers it. Directors cannot do it, Dirjen cannot do it, certainly the Minister cannot do it either,” Mulyatsyah replied.