Jakarta. Former Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim said he is confident he will be cleared of corruption charges linked to a massive Chromebook procurement project, arguing that court testimony has shown he neither ordered nor knew of illicit payments made by subordinates.

Speaking to reporters after a hearing at Jakarta’s Corruption Court on Monday, Nadiem said he was “surprised” by witness statements acknowledging they had received gratuities but insisting they never informed him or acted on his instructions.

“Many witnesses have admitted receiving money in the form of gratuities, but all of them stated today that they never told me about it,” Nadiem said. “They also said they were never instructed by me to accept any money.”

Nadiem, who is standing trial over the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) systems during his tenure, said the testimony exposed a fundamental flaw in the prosecution’s case. None of the witnesses, he added, had claimed there was direct ministerial intervention or orders to commit unlawful acts.

The Gojek co-founder also denied allegations that the project involved inflated pricing, saying the procurement was conducted through Indonesia’s e-catalogue system, which he described as open, publicly accessible and transparent.

“All prices in the e-catalogue go through surveys, rankings, and selection of the lowest price, followed by further negotiations to bring prices down,” he said. “So I honestly don’t understand where the alleged overpricing is.”

Nadiem stressed that pricing authority under the e-catalogue system rests with vendors and the National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP), not with ministers or line ministries. LKPP, he added, is responsible for verifying and listing products in the catalogue.

Prosecutors allege the Chromebook project caused state losses of Rp 2.1 trillion ($135 million). Judges previously rejected Nadiem’s procedural objections, allowing the case to proceed to the evidentiary phase.

During Monday’s hearing, former senior official Dhany Hamiddan Khoir, who served as a commitment-making officer at the ministry, admitted receiving $30,000 and an additional Rp 200 million in connection with the project. Dhany testified that the funds were partly distributed to other officials and partly used for office operations, including the purchase of laptops for ministry staff.

Dhany said the money originated from Susy Mariana, a partner linked to one of the winning vendors in the Chromebook tender, and confirmed under questioning that the funds had since been returned.

Last week, the Attorney General’s Office said the investigation into fugitive suspect Jurist Tan, a former special staffer to Nadiem, would continue despite reports that Jurist, last known to be in Australia, has changed nationality. Jurist, who is linked to the Chromebook case, remains at large and his whereabouts are unknown. Prosecutors said they have not confirmed reports that Jurist has applied to change nationality. The office has requested an Interpol red notice and is considering extradition, though the process depends on the country where Jurist is believed to be located.

Nadiem said he remains optimistic that the facts presented in court will ultimately lead to his acquittal. “This may be the key to my case,” he said. “God willing, I will be proven free of these charges.”

The trial is continuing with further witness examinations.