Prosecutor Applies for Permission to Seize Land and Building Belonging to Nadiem Makarim

JAKARTA - The public prosecutor from the Attorney General's Office has applied for permission to seize land and buildings belonging to former Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim to the panel of judges of the Corruption Court of Jakarta.

The chairman of the panel of judges who examined and tried the Nadiem case, Purwanto S. Abdullah, said the seizure request letter was received by the panel on Thursday. The prosecutor who wants to be seized is Nadiem's property in the Dharmawangsa area, Jakarta.

"We just received this letter today regarding the request for seizure. This seizure is against land and buildings located on Jalan Dharmawangsa," said Purwanto before concluding the continuation of the trial, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 8.

He explained that the panel of judges had not taken a stance on the request. The panel of judges will later give the opportunity to the prosecutor and the team of lawyers defending Nadiem to respond to the seizure request.

"Later, while walking, we will convey this so that later both general guidance, legal advisors, can express their opinions, respond to, to the things that are requested," he said.

During the trial, Purwanto gave the opportunity to Nadiem's lawyer team to see the seizure application letter submitted by the prosecutor. The legal advisors also went before the panel of judges.

Meanwhile, the team of advocates for Nadiem objected to the request for seizure. Referring to Article 18 of the Corruption Crime Law, Nadiem's camp believes that seizures are carried out if there is concrete evidence of the benefits received by the defendant.

Until now, the legal advisor admitted that he had not received an explanation of the calculation of state losses from the public prosecutor. Nadiem's party felt that the request for seizure was not in accordance with the law and was contrary to the protection of the rights of the defendants.

"Therefore, verbally, with this, we express our objection and ask that this be considered by the honorable panel of judges," said lawyer Nadiem.

In the same hearing, Judge Purwanto said the panel of judges granted Nadiem's request regarding permission to travel for treatment. Meanwhile, regarding the request for a postponement of detention, the panel has not deliberated.

Nadiem is accused of corruption in the education digitization program in the form of the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) at the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2019-2022, which caused a loss of state funds worth IDR 2.18 trillion.

The former minister of education, culture, research, and technology (Mendikbudristek) was also charged with receiving money worth Rp809.59 billion from the bribery.

The corruption was allegedly carried out by carrying out the procurement of learning facilities based on information and communication technology in the form of Chromebook laptops and CDM in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 budget years not in accordance with the planning and principles of procurement of goods and services.

For his actions, Nadiem is threatened with a criminal penalty as stipulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code. 1.