After Searching Special Staff's House, Attorney General's Office Opens Opportunity to Examine Former Minister Nadiem Makarim

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The Attorney General's Office has opened the possibility of summoning former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, to investigate the alleged corruption case related to the Education Digitalization Program procurement for the years 2019-2022, following the search of the homes of two of his former special staff by investigators.

On May 21, 2025, investigators from the Attorney General's Office for Special Crimes (Jampidsus Kejagung) began an investigation into the alleged corruption case of the Education Digitalization Program for the years 2019-2022, with a total budget of IDR 9.9 trillion. Subsequently, the investigators conducted searches at the homes of two Special Staff members of former Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim, with the initials FH and JT.

The Head of the Legal Information Center of the Attorney General's Office, Harli Siregar, in a press statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (27/5/2025), stated that since the case was elevated to the investigation stage, investigators have remained focused on gathering evidence from various sources. This is to identify the parties that must be held accountable in the case.

"Give time to the investigators because they are also intensively digging, delving, and making efforts to clarify this criminal act," said Harli.

Harli stated that, until now, the investigators have not yet taken preventive measures against FH and JT from leaving the country. The investigators are still considering whether such a step is necessary.

In FH's apartment, investigators seized electronic evidence (BBE) consisting of 1 laptop and 4 mobile phones. Meanwhile, in JT's apartment, investigators confiscated 2 external hard drives, 1 removable disk, and 1 laptop. Additionally, investigators seized 15 agenda books.

After the search, Harli did not rule out the possibility for investigators to examine Nadiem Makariem. However, this depends on the investigators' need to clarify this case.

"All of that will be carried out by the investigators. For instance, which parties or individuals should be summoned for questioning to clarify the matter. Any party, regardless of who they are, that can shed light on this criminal act may be subject to summons and examination," said Harli.

If summoned in the future, according to Harli, investigators are likely to inquire about the implementation of the Education Digitalization Program from 2019 to 2022. Investigators will also ask about the duties as the Minister of Education and Culture Research and Technology, which consist of tasks performed independently and tasks assigned by others or by virtue of the position. This will be revealed during the investigation.

According to Harli, the case began with a public complaint. Although the Attorney General's Office had informally received information regarding the program at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, the investigation only commenced after a public complaint was made.

"That there was an evil conspiracy, well, this still has to be investigated between who and who," said Harli.

In 2020, the Ministry of Education and Culture planned to procure assistance in information and communication technology (ICT) equipment for primary, secondary, and higher education institutions for the implementation of the Minimum Competency Assessment (AKM).

Based on the experience of testing the procurement of 1,000 units of Chromebooks by Pustekom Kemendikbudristek in 2018-2019, various obstacles were found, including that the laptops could not be used without an internet connection. Meanwhile, the condition of internet connectivity in Indonesia is still uneven.

At that time, it was concluded that the use of Chromebooks as a means for the implementation of the AKM was ineffective. The Technical Team for Planning the Procurement of ICT Equipment in its First Study (White Paper) recommended the use of the Windows operating system.

However, instead of complying, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology at that time replaced the First Study with a new study using the specifications of the Chrome operating system or Chromebook.

In this regard, investigators found evidence of collusion or conspiracy by directing the newly formed technical team to prioritize laptops with the Chromebook operating system in the Technical Study for the Procurement of ICT Equipment. Consequently, when the procurement of goods and services is carried out, the selected item will be laptops with the Chromebook operating system, even though this choice is not based on actual needs.

In the 2020-2022 fiscal year, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology allocated Rp 3.5 trillion and a Special Allocation Fund (DAK) of Rp 6.3 trillion, bringing the total to Rp 9.9 trillion. To date, investigators are still examining the details, including the provision of internet access for students during the Covid-19 pandemic that occurred from 2020 to 2022.

In addition to the Attorney General's Office, the Chromebook procurement program is also being handled by several regional prosecutors' offices.

As in Lampung, the Lampung High Prosecutor's Office has transferred the handling of the report regarding the alleged corruption in the procurement project of 2,100 units of Chromebook laptops to the Central Lampung District Attorney's Office. The report originated from a community group concerning the procurement of Chromebook laptops at the Education and Culture Office of Central Lampung Regency, amounting to IDR 17.4 billion.

In West Nusa Tenggara, the East Lombok District Attorney's Office is investigating a case of alleged corruption in the procurement of information and communication technology equipment at the East Lombok Education and Culture Office.

Separately, the Attorney General for Special Crimes at the Attorney General's Office, Febrie Adriansyah, stated before Commission III of the DPR that in his directives to the ranks of Jampidsus, he emphasized targeting cases suspected of having networks and being related to policies. This is because uncovering such cases will have a more significant impact on the public compared to merely handling ordinary cases.

"If the law enforcement authorities responsible for handling corruption crimes continue to focus their attention on ordinary cases, then this (corruption) will never be eradicated," said Febrie.