PN Jakpus Tightens Security Ahead of Nadiem Makarim's Verdict

Brimob personnel bus of the Metro Jaya Police who escorted the verdict hearing for the Nadiem Makarim case at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court/ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria

JAKARTA - The Central Jakarta District Court (PN Jakpus) tightened security ahead of the reading of the verdict in the alleged corruption case of the procurement of Chromebooks that ensnared the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim.

Security was strengthened by placing personnel from the Brimob Unit of the Metro Jaya Police in the area of the Corruption Crime Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court, where the trial was held.

PN Jakarta Pusat spokesman Firman Akbar said the move was taken to maintain security and order during the trial process which was scheduled to read the verdict.

"There are Brimob personnel because today's trial is an agenda for reading the verdict with the defendant being a public figure and a former minister. Public security and order are always the most important thing," Firman told reporters as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 30.

At the location, a number of Brimob personnel were seen guarding the entrance and a number of points in the Central Jakarta Police area. The trial is scheduled to take place in the Muhammad Hatta Ali Room and is led by the Chairman of the Panel of Judges Purwanto Abdullah.

Nadiem is a defendant 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, Culture, Research, and Technology in the 2020-2022 period.

Previously, the public prosecutor demanded Nadiem a prison sentence of 18 years, a fine of Rp1 billion, a 190-day imprisonment, and a compensation of Rp5.67 trillion, a nine-year prison sentence.

In his indictment, the prosecutor said the defendant allegedly committed an act that resulted in state financial losses of IDR 2.18 trillion.

The alleged corruption, among others, is related to the procurement of learning facilities based on information and communication technology in the form of Chromebook laptops and CDM which are considered not in accordance with the planning and principles of procurement of goods and services of the government.

The case also dragged a number of other parties, namely Mulyatsyah, Sri Mulyani, and Jurist Tan, who are still fugitives.

The prosecutor detailed the state's losses consisted of Rp. 1.56 trillion related to the education digitization program at the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as around Rp. 621.39 billion which came from the procurement of CDM which was considered unnecessary and did not provide benefits for the program.

For his actions, Nadiem was charged with violating Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption.