Prosecutors Regret Nadiem's Legal Team's Absence at Trial: Contempt of Court

The legal team of former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim collectively failed to attend the trial in the alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM). Prosecutors view the absence of Nadiem’s legal team as a form of contempt of court or an insult to the judiciary.

“Of course, this absence, in our view, constitutes contempt of court, violating the principles of the judicial process that we should all adhere to. Whatever happens—delays or otherwise—there must be attendance at the trial; that’s how it should be,” stated prosecutor Roy after the hearing at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

Prosecutors stated that this could become a negative mark on law enforcement. They described the absence as a display of unprofessionalism by Nadiem’s legal team.

“The absence of even one legal counsel from today’s trial agenda constitutes unprofessionalism on the part of the lawyers in the case of the Defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim,” he said.

Prosecutors emphasised that the trial must proceed according to applicable provisions. They added that all objections must be raised within the courtroom.

“As I have said, it is only natural and customary to have differing views between legal counsel and the public prosecutor. But such differences enrich the discourse without necessitating protests or boycotting the trial in various ways,” the prosecutor said.

“I think this is something foolish; that’s my view. Just present it in the trial,” he added.

In this case, Nadiem is accused of corruption related to the procurement of Chromebook laptops during his tenure as Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. The project is said to have caused a state loss of Rp 2.1 trillion.

Prosecutors explained that the calculation of the state loss of Rp 2.1 trillion stems from the overpricing of Chromebooks amounting to Rp 1,567,888,662,716.74 (Rp 1.5 trillion). Additionally, the procurement of unnecessary and non-beneficial CDM services amounted to USD 44,054,426, equivalent to approximately Rp 621,387,678,730 (Rp 621 billion).

Nadiem has filed an exception. The judge rejected the exception and ordered the trial to proceed to the proof stage.