Indonesia's Nadiem Makarim faces verdict in Chromebook corruption case

Nadiem Makarim, Indonesia's Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, is set to hear the verdict in his corruption trial today at the Corruption Eradication Court in Central Jakarta. The case centers on alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebooks and Chrome Device Management (CDM) systems during the 2020-2022 fiscal years.

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For the next step, the panel of judges will deliberate. We are scheduled to read the verdict two days after this, on Thursday, but considering my health condition is also a bit disturbed today, so perhaps we need to arrange it. We will still stick to Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

The prosecution has demanded a severe sentence for Makarim, seeking 18 years in prison and a fine of Rp1 billion. Additionally, they are demanding restitution totaling Rp809.5 billion and Rp4.8 trillion, which they claim represent state financial losses and assets disproportionate to Makarim's legitimate income.

Prosecutors argue that Makarim is proven to have caused financial losses to the state through the procurement of these devices. The demand for restitution, if not paid, would be converted into an additional nine years of imprisonment.

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This is a very, very, very disappointing day. Perhaps there are no words that can explain my feelings.

Makarim, who served as Minister of Education during President Jokowi's previous term, has vehemently contested the charges and the prosecution's demands. He described the day the sentence was read as "very, very, very disappointing," indicating his strong objection to the proceedings and the potential outcome.

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Sentencing the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim to 18 years imprisonment.