Public Prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) have reaffirmed that the 18-year prison sentence sought for the former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, was constructed through a systematic evaluation of valid evidence rather than subjective opinions or perceptions.
The lead prosecutor, Roy Riady, explained that every conclusion within the sentencing demand serves as a comprehensive summary of trial facts. These facts, he noted, are heavily substantiated by material evidence presented before the panel of judges.
“The sentencing demand was drafted systematically. It integrates various elements into a single conclusion, starting with the indictment followed by trial facts revealed through evidence. I must emphasize that these are trial facts based on evidence, not on perception or opinion,” Roy stated firmly following a hearing at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Roy highlighted the critical role of electronic evidence seized from the defendant’s technical team. He argued that digital documents and recorded conversations serve as irrefutable proof regarding Nadiem’s direct involvement and instructions within the Chromebook procurement project.
“People can lie, but electronic evidence does not. This is what we use to compare the actual facts. There is documented proof of a conversation from May 27 stating, ‘based on the direction of Mas Menteri.’ This implies that every subsequent meeting was a follow-up to the minister’s specific orders,” Roy continued.
In response to Nadiem’s denial regarding the IDR 5.6 trillion restitution demand, the prosecution reminded the court that the principle of the “reverse burden of proof” applies in corruption cases. The prosecution believes that Nadiem carries the responsibility to prove in court that his assets were not the result of criminal activity.
“This is known as the reverse burden of proof. Under this principle, it is both the right and the obligation of Mr. Nadiem to prove whether the disproportionate increase in his wealth is the result of a crime. How do we prove our side? Through tax reports (SPT), Wealth Reports (LHKPN), and expert testimony,” he concluded.
Previously, the prosecution demanded that Nadiem Makarim serve 18 years in prison and pay a fine of IDR 1 billion, or an additional six months of confinement. Beyond the prison term, Nadiem is also required to pay a staggering restitution fee of IDR 5.6 trillion.
This massive figure includes an alleged IDR 809.5 billion investment flow and a IDR 4.8 trillion increase in fictitious wealth identified in his 2022 LHKPN and tax filings. Should he fail to pay the restitution, Nadiem faces an additional nine years of imprisonment.
In this case, Nadiem is accused of abusing his authority to favor the Chrome OS operating system to benefit a USD 786.99 million investment from Google into his own company. The prosecution estimates that this policy resulted in state financial losses of IDR 2.18 trillion, stemming from the overpricing of laptops and the procurement of Chrome Device Management (CDM) licenses that were deemed redundant and unusable in schools located in Indonesia’s remote 3T (frontier, outermost, and least developed) regions.
Summary
Public prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Office have asserted that the 18-year prison sentence sought for former Minister Nadiem Makarim is grounded in valid material evidence rather than subjective opinion. Electronic evidence, including digital documents and call recordings, is considered compelling proof of Nadiem’s involvement in the Chromebook procurement project and the specific instructions he issued regarding it.
Beyond the criminal charges, prosecutors emphasized the burden of proof placed on Nadiem to account for his suspicious accumulation of wealth and a restitution payment of Rp5.6 trillion. Nadiem is accused of abusing his authority in the procurement of Chrome OS software, which resulted in state losses of Rp2.18 trillion due to price inflation and the purchase of irrelevant licenses.