The Jakarta Central District Court is set to live stream the plea hearing (pleidoi) for Nadiem Anwar Makarim, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, in the alleged Chromebook corruption case. This significant hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, marks a pivotal moment in the high-profile case that has garnered considerable public attention. The court’s decision to broadcast the proceedings underscores the transparency it aims to provide.
“We are providing live streaming. The public can follow the proceedings from their respective homes and will not need to attend in person,” stated Husnul Khotimah, Chief Judge of the Jakarta Central District Court, in a statement released by the court on Monday, June 1, 2026. This measure ensures broad accessibility for citizens keen to monitor the developments of the corruption trial.
The hearing is scheduled to commence at 10:00 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB) at the Jakarta Central Corruption Court. It will be broadcast via the official YouTube channel of the Jakarta Central District Court. According to Husnul Khotimah, the live broadcast also addresses the practical constraint of limited courtroom capacity, which can only accommodate approximately 70 people, including the defendant’s family and media personnel.
In anticipation of the proceedings, the court has undertaken extensive preparations within the courtroom. Several cameras have been strategically placed at various points to meticulously document the trial without disrupting the examination of evidence or the attendees. Furthermore, special attention has been given to arranging the media area, a crucial consideration given the intense public and media scrutiny surrounding the case.
During today’s session, Nadiem Makarim is slated to deliver his personal defense statement before his legal team presents their arguments. Ari Yusuf Amir, Nadiem’s legal counsel, confirmed that his client has diligently prepared for this moment, even conducting simulations to refine the delivery of his plea.
“Mr. Nadiem underwent simulations yesterday for the delivery of his plea,” Ari disclosed when contacted on Monday, June 1, 2026, highlighting the thoroughness of their preparations.
Ari further elaborated that Nadiem’s personal defense statement spans approximately 30 to 40 pages. It is estimated that Nadiem will require about an hour to read his entire defense before the panel of judges. This detailed presentation is expected to address the accusations directly from his perspective.
Following Nadiem’s personal statement, his legal team will present their comprehensive defense. However, Ari noted that the legal team will not read the entirety of their extensive plea, which reportedly totals nearly 1,000 pages. “If we were to present everything, it would be incredibly voluminous. So, we will present a summary of it,” Ari explained, indicating a strategic approach to their presentation.
The defense team has also prepared a multimedia presentation, utilizing slides and incorporating several video clips containing crucial facts that emerged during the trial. According to Ari, this innovative approach aims to visually emphasize testimonies deemed vital for the defendant’s defense. “There are videos that serve as examples, showing that, indeed, during the trial, testimonies like these were presented,” he elaborated, underscoring the team’s commitment to presenting compelling evidence.
The plea hearing represents Nadiem Makarim and his legal team’s critical opportunity to respond to the prosecutor’s demanding charges, which were read on May 23, 2026. In their indictment, prosecutors sought an arduous 18-year prison sentence for Nadiem.
“We demand that the panel of judges declare the defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim legally and convincingly guilty of committing corruption collectively,” prosecutor Roy Riady stated emphatically while reading the charges.
Beyond the lengthy prison sentence, prosecutors also demanded Nadiem pay a fine of Rp 1 billion, with a subsidiary sentence of 190 days imprisonment if unpaid. Additionally, the prosecution sought an extraordinary supplementary penalty: payment of restitution totaling Rp 5.68 trillion. Should Nadiem fail to pay this amount, his assets could be seized and auctioned to cover the obligation. If his assets prove insufficient, this could be commuted to an additional nine years in prison, highlighting the severe financial implications.
In this complex case, prosecutors have accused Nadiem of enriching himself by Rp 809.59 billion, as well as enriching 12 private companies that served as vendors for the Chromebook procurement. The prosecution asserts that the procurement of these Chrome OS-based laptops was conducted for business interests linked to Google and PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (AKAB). This company, originally founded by Nadiem, later became part of PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia following its merger with Tokopedia in 2021, drawing a direct connection to his past ventures.
Prosecutors further declared that the Chromebook procurement inflicted a staggering Rp 2.18 trillion loss on state finances. This sum comprises Rp 1.56 trillion, as verified by an audit conducted by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), and approximately Rp 621.38 billion arising from the procurement of Chrome Device Management. Today’s plea hearing stands as the ultimate stage for Nadiem to present his defense before the panel of judges deliberates and delivers their final verdict.
Amelia Rahima Sari contributed to the writing of this article.
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Summary
The Jakarta Central District Court will live stream the plea hearing of former minister Nadiem Makarim on June 2, 2026, regarding his involvement in an alleged Chromebook procurement corruption case. Chief Judge Husnul Khotimah stated that the broadcast aims to ensure transparency and accessibility for the public, given the limited capacity of the courtroom. During the session, Makarim is expected to present a personal defense statement, followed by a summarized presentation from his legal team supported by multimedia evidence.
This hearing follows prosecution demands for an 18-year prison sentence, a Rp 1 billion fine, and Rp 5.68 trillion in restitution. Makarim is accused of enriching himself and several private companies while causing approximately Rp 2.18 trillion in state financial losses through the procurement of Chrome OS-based laptops. The session serves as a critical opportunity for the defense to address these severe charges before the panel of judges moves toward a final verdict.