Former Education Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim said he has no regrets about taking the ministerial post even as prosecutors demanded an 18-year prison term in the Chromebook procurement corruption case. He expressed disappointment and heartbreak over the demand after the hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday.
Nadiem explained that his wealth increase of Rp4.87 trillion came from the value of the GoTo IPO in 2022, not from corruption. He also rejected the demand for replacement money of Rp5.67 trillion because the figure was only a fictional share value at the time of the IPO and had no connection to the Chromebook case.
Prosecutors demanded Nadiem serve 18 years in prison, pay a Rp1 billion fine with a 190-day subsidiary term, and return Rp5.67 trillion with a nine-year subsidiary term. The demand was based on the view that Nadiem violated Article 603 of the National Criminal Code jo Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law over state losses of Rp2.18 trillion.
Nadiem said he was surprised that his demand exceeded those typically given to murderers or terrorists. He noted that the trial process had already shown there was no administrative error or element of corruption on his part.
