Nadiem Makarim Has The Opportunity To Be A Suspect At The KPK Even Though He Has Been Detained By The Attorney General's Office

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the former Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim could be a suspect in the alleged corruption in the procurement of Google Cloud even though the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has been detained today.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo when asked about the ongoing investigation into the alleged corruption related to Google Cloud. According to him, if Nadiem becomes a suspect in this case, then the ongoing legal process at the Attorney General's Office will not be disrupted.

"It is possible (if Nadiem becomes a suspect even though he has been detained by the AGO, ed)," Budi told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, September 4.

Budi said a similar incident occurred in the handling of alleged corruption in the procurement of advertisements at PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat and Banten Tbk or Bank BJB (BJBR).

One of the suspects, namely former President Director of Bank BJB Yuddy Renaldi, is known to have been detained by the AGO in a corruption case related to Sritex.

"There is one suspect named by the KPK and also named a suspect by the Attorney General's Office," he said.

"So it is possible and indeed the KPK, the Attorney General's Office, the National Police have the same commitment to build synergy so that in law enforcement processes including eradicating corruption can run in harmony," continued Budi.

Even so, Budi said the Google Cloud case was still under investigation. However, to what extent, we cannot convey it because it is still under investigation.

As for investigating the alleged corruption of Google Cloud, the KPK has asked for information from a number of parties. Among them are Nadiem Makarim to his special staff,LAH Handayani.

It is known that two investigations have been asked for information, including on Tuesday, September 2. However, no statement was made by the KPK.

Previously reported, the KPK is investigating allegations of corruption in the procurement of Google Cloud. It is suspected that there is too much to pay in the process.

"This is what we are investigating. Is this happening too expensive or what," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu to reporters quoted on Saturday, July 26.

The procurement of Google Cloud, which is suspected of being corrupted, occurred during the COVID-19 or 2020 pandemic. At that time, the government made online school rules due to activity restrictions to prevent transmission of the virus.

This Google Cloud serves to store data such as tasks to test results. The way it works is actually the same as the current online storage on smart cellphones.

As for the investigation process, a number of parties have been questioned. Among them are Nadiem Makarim who is the former Minister of Education and Culture.

Nadiem admitted that he had explained about Google Cloud to investigators when he was present at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, August 7. He was asked for information at around 18.45 WIB or after nine hours since his presence at 09.15 WIB.

"Earlier, thank God, I was asked to provide information regarding cloud procurement at the Ministry of Education and Culture," Nadiem told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, August 7.