Public Prosecutor Roy Riady has emphasized the critical need for a comprehensive understanding of the trial proceedings involving former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, in the alleged Chromebook laptop procurement corruption case. According to Riady, such intricate details and the full scope of the case cannot possibly be grasped within a mere 60 minutes. This statement by Prosecutor Roy came in direct response to comments made by political observer Rocky Gerung, who himself attended a session of Nadiem’s trial on Monday, May 11th, until its adjournment around 2:00 PM Western Indonesian Time.
Highlighting the extensive nature of the proceedings, Roy pointed out that the trial for Nadiem’s case has already spanned nearly six months, featuring testimonies from dozens of witnesses. He sharply questioned Gerung’s brief observation, stating, “How can he (Rocky) thoroughly analyze a legal event, its factual evidence, and supporting proof after attending the trial for merely one to two hours?” Roy posed this challenge at the Jakarta Corruption Court on that same Monday.
Furthermore, Prosecutor Riady argued that Gerung’s premature conclusions could inadvertently bolster the perception that Nadiem Makarim might have improperly influenced or mandated the use of Chromebooks in the government’s laptop procurement initiatives between 2020 and 2022.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Nadiem Makarim personally received Rp 809.56 billion in connection with the sophisticated education digitalization program corruption case, specifically involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology from 2019 to 2022. Nadiem’s suspected involvement during his tenure as Education Minister (2019–2024) was explicitly detailed during the indictment reading for three co-defendants—Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, Sri Wahyuningsih, and Mulyatsyah—who are implicated in the very same case. Notably, Nadiem himself was absent from the hearing due to illness.
Collectively, these three defendants are accused of causing a staggering state financial loss amounting to Rp 2.18 trillion. This substantial figure is broken down into two components: Rp 1.56 trillion directly linked to the broader education digitalization program within the Ministry, and an additional US$ 44.05 million (equivalent to Rp 621.39 billion) stemming from the procurement of Chrome Device Management (CDM), which prosecutors deem both unnecessary and ultimately unbeneficial for the aforementioned digital education initiatives.
The prosecution further asserts that these three defendants perpetrated their illegal acts in concert with Nadiem Makarim and Jurist Tan, a former Special Staff to the Minister of Education. According to the prosecutors, these unlawful actions specifically involved the procurement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based learning tools, including Chromebook laptops and CDM, for the Fiscal Years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Crucially, these procurements allegedly deviated significantly from established planning guidelines and various fundamental procurement principles, indicating a systemic failure or deliberate circumvention.
As reported by Katadata, Rocky Gerung was indeed present to observe the examination of Nadiem Makarim as a defendant on Monday. Gerung articulated his presence in court as a means to ascertain whether the trial was proceeding strictly in accordance with sound legal reasoning and principles, or if there were procedural or logical shortcomings.
Rocky Gerung, in his assessment, contended that the Public Prosecutor’s Office had failed to effectively link the presented facts to concrete accusations during the trial. He specifically highlighted what he perceived as the prosecution’s struggle to transform WhatsApp conversations into incriminating evidence. Gerung remarked, “There appears to be a certain exhaustion experienced by the prosecutor in attempting to convert WhatsApp conversations into compelling incriminating evidence. It seems the legal reasoning required to elevate these facts into firm accusations has not yet fully materialized.”
Summary
Public Prosecutor Roy Riady has criticized political observer Rocky Gerung for his brief assessment of the ongoing corruption trial involving former Minister Nadiem Makarim. Riady argued that a two-hour observation is insufficient to grasp the complexities of a case that has spanned six months and involved numerous witnesses. He cautioned that premature conclusions regarding Nadiem’s alleged influence in the Chromebook procurement process could lead to misleading public perceptions.
The corruption case involves allegations of state financial losses totaling Rp 2.18 trillion related to education digitalization programs between 2019 and 2022. Prosecutors allege that Nadiem Makarim and his associates bypassed procurement principles to acquire Chromebooks and Chrome Device Management services. While Gerung questioned the prosecution’s ability to effectively link evidence to the charges, the Public Prosecutor’s Office maintains that the systemic irregularities require a comprehensive understanding beyond initial observations.