Facing the Verdict, Nadiem: God Will Never Leave Me

Former Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim gives information to reporters before the verdict hearing at the Corruption Court at the Jakpus PN, Tuesday (30/6/2026). ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria

JAKARTA - Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the period 2019-2024 Nadiem Anwar Makarim said that whatever happens, he is not alone, ahead of the verdict hearing in the alleged corruption case of Chromebooks.

He said that he currently still has family by his side and receives support from various circles of society.

"I have truth on my side and therefore God will never leave me. We know today that anything can happen," said Nadiem when giving information to reporters before the verdict at the Corruption Court at the Jakpus PN, Tuesday, June 30, reported by ANTARA.

Therefore, although it is difficult to find words, Nadiem is very grateful because in the one-year struggle he does not feel alone.

He also hopes that the truth will win today and justice still exists in this country. However, Nadiem does not want to be naive because the decision of the panel of judges may not be based on the facts of the trial.

However, Nadiem believes that there is a much greater wisdom than the case he experienced, where he not only represents himself and his family, but represents every honest person who has been criminalized and will be criminalized.

The former Minister of Education and Culture hopes that his case can be used as a change or motivation for better changes for the Indonesian legal system, both in the prosecution process, proof, and verdict.

"Thus, this will not happen again in this country that we love," he said.

Even so, Nadiem said he never regretted his decision to serve the country and did not want young people to be afraid of serving the country after the Chromebook corruption case.

Because, he actually wants his case to be a golden opportunity for Indonesia to become better, to give hope to young people, and to give hope to legal certainty, so that all parties feel safe to serve the country.

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 environment in 2019-2022.

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

In that case, he was charged with corruption that caused losses to state finances worth Rp2.18 trillion.

The alleged corruption, among others, the provision of learning facilities based on information and communication technology with Chromebook laptops and CDM in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 budget years, which are 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.