Ari Yusuf Amir, legal counsel for Nadiem Makarim, has revealed his client’s condition following a surgical procedure performed on Wednesday night (May 13). Makarim underwent the operation shortly after attending a demanding indictment hearing at the South Jakarta District Court.
According to Amir, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is progressively recovering and remains under medical care.
“Indeed, the surgery took place last night, around midnight. He is currently still receiving treatment, but his condition has begun to stabilize,” Amir stated on Thursday (May 14).
Operation Due to Internal Bleeding and Infection
Amir elaborated that the surgical intervention was necessitated by internal bleeding, which subsequently triggered an infection.
“The operation was directly related to the internal bleeding that caused the infection. The procedure itself lasted approximately one hour, with pre-operative preparations and post-operative recovery phases extending to about five hours,” he explained.
He further added that the recovery period is estimated to span between three to four weeks.
“The estimated recovery time is three to four weeks. This recovery can take place at home, provided strict sterile and hygienic conditions are maintained,” Amir clarified.
Legal Counsel Criticizes Prosecutor’s Demands
Transitioning to legal matters, Amir also addressed the demands put forth by the public prosecutor (JPU) in the ongoing alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of Chromebook laptops.
He indicated that the legal team had anticipated the prosecutor would seek a severe indictment.
“We had already suspected that the prosecutor would demand the harshest possible sentence. Our assessment is that their stance is driven purely by emotion and ambition, completely disregarding the facts presented during the court proceedings,” Amir asserted.
Furthermore, he openly questioned the prosecutor’s role in upholding law and justice.
“We seriously question the public prosecutor’s function in upholding law and justice,” he stated.
Nadiem Indicted for 18 Years in Prison
Earlier, prosecutors had sought a sentence of 18 years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 1 billion against Nadiem Makarim.
Additionally, the prosecution demanded a restitution payment of Rp 809 billion, along with an astounding Rp 4.8 trillion deemed as illicit assets.
The indictment alleges Nadiem’s involvement in the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) from 2020 to 2022. This procurement was reportedly deemed unsuitable for educational needs, particularly in Indonesia’s underdeveloped, remote, and border (3T) regions.
This particular case is said to have inflicted approximately Rp 2.18 trillion in state financial losses.
Following the indictment hearing, Nadiem expressed profound disappointment with the prosecutor’s demands.
“I am utterly bewildered as to why the charges against me are more severe than those against a murderer? Why are my charges heavier than those faced by a terrorist?” Nadiem questioned rhetorically on Wednesday (May 13).
Summary
Nadiem Makarim, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, underwent surgery on Wednesday night, May 13, shortly after an indictment hearing. His legal counsel, Ari Yusuf Amir, reported that Nadiem’s condition is stable and he is progressively recovering under medical care. The operation was necessitated by internal bleeding that caused an infection, with an estimated recovery period of three to four weeks.
In the ongoing alleged corruption case concerning Chromebook procurement, prosecutors sought an 18-year prison sentence, a Rp 1 billion fine, and significant restitution and illicit asset payments. The case alleges Nadiem’s involvement in unsuitable laptop procurement from 2020-2022, resulting in approximately Rp 2.18 trillion in state financial losses. Both Nadiem and his legal team expressed strong disappointment and questioned the severity and basis of the prosecutor’s demands.