Indonesia
"An entire generation is holding its breath, waiting for the panel's decision; waiting for confirmation of whether truth still means something in our beloved country," Nadiem says.
Former education minister and graft defendant Nadiem Makarim looks on the camera during a hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court in Jakarta on May 11, 2026. The former minister, who is also known as a co-founder of ride-hailing app Gojek, is standing trial on corruption charges pertaining to the procurement of Chromebook laptops for schoolchildren during his tenure in the education ministry. (Antara/Asprilla Dwi Adha)
Former education minister Nadiem Makarim delivered his defense plea at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday, urging the panel of judges to acquit him of corruption charges and warning that his prosecution risked discouraging a generation of talented young professionals from entering public service.Arriving at the Central Jakarta District Court wearing a Gojek driver jacket before changing into a blue batik shirt – a gesture widely read as solidarity with the platform workers who have publicly rallied behind him – Nadiem took roughly an hour to deliver his personal plea, which ran to 30 to 40 pages.
