Nadiem Makarim: The Criminalization Train Car Has Started Long Before Me

JAKARTA - The Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the period 2019-2024, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, alluded to a legal case that had dragged Tom Lembong, while reading a plea or defense note in the trial.

According to Nadiem, the case of the Minister of Trade for the period 2015-2016, Thomas Trikasih Lembong, related to corruption in the import of sugar is one of a series of criminalization cases.

"The criminalization train car has started long before me. Mr. Tom, Ms. Ira, Proverbs, Ibam, and dozens of others who have not been released to date," said Nadiem at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Tuesday, June 2, reported by ANTARA.

Thus, Nadiem stated that the "thunder" outside the trial did not start with his case related to the alleged corruption case of Chromebooks.

Nadiem said the news of various strange cases in Indonesia was global.

He admitted that he had never seen so many anti-corruption activists simultaneously raising a loud alarm for law enforcement officials in Indonesia as they are today.

Therefore, he argues that Allah SWT wants him to stand up to read the defense note not as a victim, but as a witness to what is happening to too many people in Indonesia.

Nadiem emphasized that the case of alleged corruption in Chromebooks was no longer about one person who was wronged.

"Whether I am imprisoned or not, whether I am dismissed or not, it is in the hands of God and in the hands of the honorable panel of judges," he said.

He said all parties, including young professionals, state officials, and investors, are now "biting their fingers" waiting for the panel of judges to decide on him.

Nadiem reminded that legal uncertainty is one of the factors that cause a decline in the stock market and the value of the rupiah.

It is said that the business community sees a bad precedent from the Chromebook case because they do not understand the reason why the case can go to court.

"Legal certainty is the main pillar of economic growth and this case is one of its biggest tests," said Nadiem.

Therefore, he said, the decision of the panel of judges could restore public anxiety and give new hope, but it could also undermine public confidence, which is now increasingly fragile.

Nadiem Makarim is one of the defendants in the case of alleged corruption in the education digitization program in the form of the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) in the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2019-2022.

Previously, he was charged with a prison sentence of 18 years, a fine of Rp1 billion, 190 days in prison, and a substitute fine of Rp5.67 trillion, 9 years in prison.

In that case, Nadiem was charged with corruption that caused losses to state finances worth IDR 2.18 trillion.

The corruption was allegedly carried out, among others, 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, which were not in accordance with the procurement planning and procurement principles.

The founder of one of the technology companies was charged with committing the act together with three other defendants in a different trial, namely Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, Mulyatsyah and Sri Wahyuningsih as well as Jurist Tan, who is currently still at large.

In detail, the losses caused by the state include Rp1.56 trillion related to the education digitization program at the Ministry of Education and Culture, as well as 44.05 million US dollars or the equivalent of Rp621.39 billion due to the procurement of CDM that is not necessary and not useful in the education digitization program.

With this act, Nadiem is suspected of having received money amounting to IDR 809.59 billion originating from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) through PT Gojek Indonesia.

It is stated that most of PT AKAB's money comes from Google's investment of US$786.99 million.

This can be seen from Nadiem's wealth which is recorded in the State-level Wealth Report (LHKPN) in 2022, namely there is an acquisition of property in the form of securities worth IDR 5.59 trillion.

For his actions, the former Minister of Education and Culture was 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 as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.