Makarim, who served from 2019 to 2024, is alleged to have been involved in corruption related to the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) systems at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology between 2019 and 2022.
The allegation was disclosed on Tuesday by public prosecutor Roy Riady of the Attorney General’s Office during the reading of indictments against three defendants in the same case: Ibrahim Arief, Sri Wahyuningsih, and Mulyatsyah.
“The money received by Makarim came from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa through PT Gojek Indonesia,” the prosecutor said.
He added that most of PT AKAB’s funds originated from a Google investment worth US$786.99 million.
This was reflected in Makarim’s 2022 State Officials’ Wealth Report (LHKPN), which recorded securities holdings valued at Rp5.59 trillion (about US$335 million).
The indictment against Makarim is scheduled to be read on Tuesday, July 23, after his earlier hearing was postponed due to the suspension of his detention period, as the former minister was reportedly ill.
In this corruption case, the three defendants are accused of causing state financial losses of Rp2.18 trillion (US$130 million).
This includes Rp1.56 trillion (US$93 million) linked to the ministry’s education digitalization program, as well as US$44.05 million in losses from the procurement of Chrome Device Management, which prosecutors say was unnecessary and provided no benefit to the program.
Prosecutors stated that the three defendants allegedly carried out the unlawful acts together with Makarim and former ministerial special staff member Jurist Tan.
They also alleged that the defendants, along with Makarim and Tan, were involved in the procurement of Chromebook laptops through the e-Catalog system and the School Procurement Information System (SIPLah) in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
The procurement was allegedly conducted without price evaluations and without supporting price references for the Chromebook units.
Translator: Agatha Olivia, Kuntum Khaira
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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