Jakarta, Indonesia – Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim has been named a suspect in a corruption case involving the digitization of education programs within the Ministry of Research and technology between 2019 and 2022, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced today. The case, which allegedly caused state losses of Rp 1.98 trillion (approximately $125 million USD), has prompted lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea too seek assistance from Prabowo Subianto, according to reports.
The investigation centers on alleged irregularities in the implementation of the education digitization programme. Nadiem Makarim is accused of violating Article 2 paragraph 1 or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law number 31 of 1999, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes, alongside Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. This advancement marks a significant escalation in a case that has already seen multiple examinations of key figures.
The AGO has identified a total of five suspects in connection with the alleged corruption.These include Sri Wahyuningsih, Director of Elementary School at the Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Basic Education and Secondary Education (2020-2021); Mulyatsyah, Director of SMP at the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbudristek) in 2020; Jurist Tan, a Special Staff to the Minister of Education and Culture during Nadiem Makarim’s tenure as Minister of Research and Technology; Ibrahim Arief, an individual consultant involved in the design of school resource management technology infrastructure; and Nadiem Makarim himself.
Nadiem Makarim has already been questioned twice by investigators, on June 23rd and July 15th, with each session lasting approximately 12 and 9 hours respectively. A third examination took place on September 4th. Moreover, authorities have imposed a six-month travel ban on Nadiem Makarim, effective as June 19, 2025, preventing him from leaving the country.
the AGO’s investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected as the case proceeds. The alleged corruption impacts the Indonesian education system and raises questions about the oversight of large-scale digitization projects.
