Nadiem Makarim's Legal Team Denies Using Influencers, Details Defense in Chromebook Case

The legal team representing former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim has firmly refuted allegations that they have officially mobilized influencers to champion his defense on social media platforms. Spokesperson Ari Yusuf Amir clarified that while they have not formally contracted influencers, they have actively engaged in disseminating information about the case to the public. Their strategy, he explained, involves meticulously detailing the facts of the trial to ensure transparency and public understanding.

This defense comes amidst a high-profile corruption trial involving the procurement of Chromebooks during Nadiem Makarim's tenure. The prosecution has sought a severe sentence, including 18 years imprisonment and substantial fines, alleging that Nadiem steered the procurement towards Google's Chromebooks due to a pre-existing arrangement. The prosecution also pointed to a sum of Rp 809 billion, which they claim represents Nadiem's illicit gains from Google.

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If we officially engaged them, no. But we did open and present this matter to the public. One by one we dissected it, we explained it in detail.

However, Nadiem's legal team has vehemently denied these accusations. They contest the notion that Nadiem directed the procurement based on any undue influence or prior agreement with Google. Furthermore, they have challenged the prosecution's interpretation of the Rp 809 billion, explaining it as a corporate transaction between PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (AKAB) and PT Gojek Indonesia – two companies founded by Nadiem. This transaction, they argue, involved AKAB injecting funds into Gojek through new share issuance, a standard administrative process, and is unrelated to the Chromebook procurement. From our perspective at Tempo, the defense's detailed explanation aims to reframe the narrative, emphasizing the corporate nature of the funds and distancing Nadiem from the alleged corrupt dealings. The public's attention is keenly focused on how these contrasting narratives will play out in court.

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So, the transaction was between two companies. PT AKAB injected Rp 809 billion in the form of new share issuance in PT Gojek Indonesia so that PT AKAB owns 99.9 percent of PT GI shares.