The legal defense team for former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, has officially requested that the Jakarta Corruption Court acquit their client of all charges brought by the Public Prosecutor (JPU).
During the hearing on Tuesday, June 2, defense attorney Dodi S. Abdulkadir urged the panel of judges to fully accept the defense brief. He argued that there is no legally convincing evidence to support the claims that Nadiem Makarim engaged in corruption regarding the Chromebook laptop procurement project.
“We request the court to acquit the defendant, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, of all charges from the Public Prosecutor, or at the very least, release him from all legal claims,” stated Dodi during his reading of the defense plea.
The defense team meticulously detailed that their client did not violate either the primary or subsidiary charges. Dodi emphasized that Nadiem remains innocent, noting that the prosecution failed to prove any breach of Article 2, paragraph (1) and Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption, in conjunction with Article 55, paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.
Consequently, the defense team has urged the judges to issue an immediate release order for their client. “We ask the court to order the Public Prosecutor to release the defendant, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, from detention immediately after the verdict is delivered,” Dodi added.
Beyond the acquittal, the legal team is also pushing for the rehabilitation of Nadiem’s reputation. They are seeking a formal restoration of his standing, professional capacity, and personal dignity, arguing that these have been unfairly compromised throughout the trial process.
Furthermore, the defense has called for the return of all seized assets without exception and requested that all legal costs associated with the case be borne by the state. “We request that the Public Prosecutor returns all evidence belonging to Nadiem Anwar Makarim that was previously seized, and we ask that the court costs be charged to the state,” Dodi concluded.
The ongoing legal case stems from allegations of corruption linked to the digital transformation project and the procurement of Chromebooks by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology between 2019 and 2022. In previous proceedings, the prosecution demanded an 18-year prison sentence for Nadiem, alongside fines and restitution, alleging that the project caused IDR 2.1 trillion in state losses.
Summary
The defense team for former Minister Nadiem Makarim has formally requested a full acquittal at the Jakarta Corruption Court regarding allegations of corruption in the Chromebook procurement project. Attorney Dodi S. Abdulkadir argued that the prosecution failed to present convincing evidence to support charges of financial misconduct, asserting that his client did not violate any corruption laws. Consequently, the defense has urged the judges to clear Nadiem of all charges and order his immediate release from detention.
Beyond the acquittal, the defense is seeking the full rehabilitation of Nadiem’s reputation, the return of all seized assets, and for the state to cover all associated legal costs. The ongoing trial stems from accusations that the Ministry’s digital transformation project between 2019 and 2022 resulted in IDR 2.1 trillion in state losses. While the prosecution previously demanded an 18-year prison sentence, the defense maintains that Nadiem remains innocent of all claims.