Jakarta. Former Education Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim appeared at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) on Tuesday for questioning as a suspect in a $600 million (Rp 9.96 trillion) corruption case linked to a Chromebook procurement program. This follows a setback for Nadiem after a South Jakarta District Court rejected his pretrial motion on Monday, affirming his legal status as a suspect.

Nadiem, co-founder of ride-hailing giant Gojek, arrived at the AGO in a detention vehicle, wearing a prosecutor-issued vest and handcuffs. He told reporters he is still recovering from a recent illness. “Still recovering, please pray for me,” he said, while affirming his readiness to face the ongoing legal process. “I am ready to undergo the legal process. Thank you for all the support,” he added.

The pretrial motion, filed by Nadiem’s legal team, sought to challenge the suspect designation over procedural issues. Led by prominent lawyer Hotman Paris, the defense argued that prosecutors violated proper procedure by issuing an investigation warrant and arrest order on the same day --Sept. 4, 2025-- without questioning Nadiem as a potential suspect. They also cited alleged inconsistencies in official documentation.

Judge I Ketut Darpawan of the South Jakarta District Court rejected the motion, stating the AGO had followed proper procedures in naming Nadiem a suspect. “The court rejects the petitioner’s pretrial motion,” the judge said, confirming the former minister’s arrest and investigation were lawful under Indonesian law.

The AGO welcomed the ruling, calling it a validation of their investigation. “We respect the ruling, which confirms that our procedures in determining the suspect’s status are in line with criminal law,” AGO spokesman Anang Supriatna said. He added that prosecutors will continue the investigation while upholding Nadiem’s presumption of innocence.

The case centers on the Ministry of Education’s $600 million Chromebook procurement program between 2020 and 2022, which was meant to support digital learning in schools. Investigators allege the project caused around Rp 2 trillion in state losses due to poor implementation and unusable devices in remote regions. If convicted under Indonesia’s anti-corruption laws, Nadiem could face up to 20 years in prison. 

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