Thekabarnews.com—YouTuber and education influencer Jerome Polin has reacted to the prosecution’s call for an 18-year prison sentence for former minister of education, culture, research, and technology Nadiem Makarim. Prosecutors connected the request to the alleged corruption case over the purchase of Chromebooks and Chrome Device Management (CDM).

In a post on his personal Threads account, Jerome said he worried the legal case against Nadiem could deter talented and ethical people from wanting to work in government. Jerome said this concern could impact recruitment in the future.

“Eventually all qualified people of integrity will be afraid to enter or work with the government with Mas Nadiem facing 18 years in jail,” Jerome wrote.

The long-term impact, said Jerome, could endanger the quality of governance in Indonesia.

“If professionals lose faith in public service, then eventually only people driven by self-interest rather than public service will fill government positions,” he warned.

“In the end, the government will be filled with corrupt individuals.” We’re screwed, right?” added Jerome.

Soon his statement was all over the social networks.

Jerome had some support. They believed policy decisions should not lead to instant criminal charges for officials trying to implement reform.

Others emphasized that authorities must adhere to the rule of law and address corruption accusations on the basis of facts and evidence, not emotions.

“I was very disappointed that the prosecutors brought serious charges against me,” Nadiem Makarim said. He added that he was disappointed that his years of public service had ended in a painful legal process.

“I feel hurt that the state could do this to me after all my service,” Nadiem Makarim remarked.

But Nadiem said he had no regrets about joining the cabinet of Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo, despite the letdown.

“I don’t regret coming into government,” he said.

Nadiem said he would risk jail to fight for Indonesia’s education.

“I will take the risk if I fail or go to prison because the future of Indonesia is more important,” he said.

Prosecutors have named Nadiem as a suspect in the alleged graft case of the procurement of Chromebook laptops and CDM systems. The case is the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.

They asked the court to sentence him to 18 years in jail and to fine him Rp1 billion. Failure to pay the fine will result in 190 days in jail.

The prosecutor also demanded compensation of Rp5.68 trillion. The total is Rp809.5 billion and Rp4.87 trillion in replacement money.

If Nadiem lacked sufficient assets to pay the compensation, prosecutors also asked for nine more years in prison.

It has become one of the most high-profile legal cases involving a former cabinet minister. Many people are closely watching the case because Nadiem Makarim built his public image as a reform-focused technocrat and successful founder of Gojek.

The case poses a larger question for the country as the public debate intensifies. That is, how can Indonesia enforce the anti-corruption measures while encouraging competent people to serve in government?

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