The legal defense team for Nadiem Makarim, Indonesia’s former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, has urgently appealed to the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) to fully acquit their client of all charges brought by the Public Prosecutor. The defense contends that Makarim is innocent and should be exonerated from the allegations.
In a compelling plea, Nadiem’s legal representatives urged the judges to unequivocally accept and grant their submitted defense memorandum in its entirety. They argued forcefully that Nadiem has not been legally or convincingly proven to have committed any act of corruption related to the Chromebook laptop procurement project, as alleged in the indictment.
“We demand that Defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim be acquitted of all charges from the Public Prosecutor, or at the very least, released from all legal claims,” asserted Dodi S. Abdulkadir, one of Nadiem’s legal counsel, while presenting the petition before the Judicial Panel on Tuesday, June 2nd.
The defense meticulously detailed that their client was found not guilty of violating either the primary or subsidiary indictments. This firm stance underscores their belief in Nadiem’s innocence against the accusations leveled against him.
“We affirm that Defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim has not been legally and convincingly proven to have committed any of the criminal acts he is accused of,” Dodi further elaborated. He specifically referenced Article 2 paragraph (1) and Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes, read in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) item 1 of the Criminal Code, to support their position.
Consequently, the legal team pressed the Judicial Panel to promptly issue an order for their client’s release from pre-trial detention. This immediate action, they argued, is crucial following their presentation of compelling evidence of innocence.
“We instruct the Public Prosecutor to release Defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim from detention immediately after the verdict is pronounced,” Dodi added, emphasizing the urgency of Nadiem’s freedom.
Beyond the demand for acquittal and release, the defense also vehemently called for the rehabilitation of their client’s good name and standing. They seek to fully restore Nadiem Makarim’s reputation, ensuring his integrity remains untarnished by the baseless allegations.
“We seek to restore Defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim to his original position, capabilities, honor, and dignity,” Dodi continued, highlighting the profound impact of the accusations on Makarim’s public and professional life.
Furthermore, the defense requested that the court mandate the return of all seized assets without exception, asserting that they were unlawfully taken. They also demanded that the state bear the entirety of the court costs, rather than burdening their client.
“We instruct the Public Prosecutor to return all evidence belonging to Defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim without exception, which had previously been seized, and to charge the case costs to the state,” Dodi declared, underscoring the comprehensive nature of their demands.
This high-profile case originated from allegations of corruption within the digital transformation project and the procurement of learning facilities, specifically Chromebook laptops, carried out under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology during the period of 2019-2022. The allegations have drawn significant public attention and scrutiny.
In a previous hearing, the Public Prosecutor had sought a severe sentence for Nadiem, demanding 18 years of imprisonment. In addition to the custodial sentence, Nadiem was also ordered to pay substantial fines and restitution, as he was deemed to have caused state financial losses amounting to Rp 2.1 trillion – a staggering sum that underscores the gravity of the accusations.
Summary
The legal defense team for Nadiem Makarim, Indonesia’s former Minister of Education, has urgently appealed to the Jakarta Corruption Court for his full acquittal. They contend that Makarim is innocent and has not been legally or convincingly proven to have committed any act of corruption related to the Chromebook laptop procurement project. The defense urged the judges to accept their memorandum in its entirety and demanded Nadiem’s release from pre-trial detention.
Additionally, the defense requested the rehabilitation of Nadiem’s good name and the return of all seized assets, with court costs borne by the state. This high-profile case stems from allegations of corruption in the digital transformation and Chromebook procurement projects from 2019-2022. Previously, the Public Prosecutor had sought an 18-year imprisonment sentence for Nadiem, along with fines and restitution for alleged state financial losses amounting to Rp 2.1 trillion.