Legal Literacy — The Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) explained the reason for involving TNI soldiers in securing the trial of the alleged corruption case in the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) at the Kemendikbudristek in 2019–2022 with the defendant being former Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim. This explanation was conveyed by the Attorney General's Office on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, following public attention regarding the presence of TNI personnel in the courtroom of the Jakarta Corruption Court.[1]

Risk-based assessment, not limited to trials

Director of Prosecution at the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) of the Attorney General's Office, Riono Budisantoso, stated that security involving TNI elements had been carried out “for some time” and was decided based on a risk assessment that there was a need for security.[2]

Riono emphasized that the involvement of the TNI was not special security for the Nadiem trial alone. According to him, security involving TNI members can be carried out for various Attorney General's activities, especially in the Special Crimes (Pidsus) sector, as long as it is deemed necessary from a risk aspect.[3]

He also added that TNI involvement is not only related to trial activities, but can also include other activities in carrying out the duties and functions of the Attorney General's Office.[4]

Judge asks TNI personnel to move because they are blocking the view

The spotlight on security emerged during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, January 5, 2026. In the trial, the panel of judges reprimanded three TNI soldiers who were standing in the front area of ​​the visitor's seat, right near the access door to the trial area, because it was considered to interfere with the views of visitors and the spotlight of the reporting cameras.[5]

Chief Judge Purwanto S Abdullah had asked where the TNI personnel were from and asked them to take a position that did not obstruct. After the reprimand, the TNI personnel moved to the back of the courtroom, and the trial was resumed.[6]

Separately, the public prosecutor (JPU) in the case also stated that the presence of TNI soldiers in the courtroom was related to security aspects. The JPU mentioned that TNI involvement was also seen in various case handling activities, and linked it to a cooperation policy to strengthen security within the prosecutor's office.[7]

As context for the case, in the trial the prosecutor read out an indictment related to alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebooks and CDM in the education digitization program, with the state loss value stated in the indictment reaching approximately Rp2.1 trillion (according to the prosecutor's description).[8]

With the Attorney General's explanation, the official position of the prosecution agency emphasizes that security is based on risk assessment—while the court continues to carry out its function of maintaining order in the trial, including ensuring that the layout and movement of security officers do not interfere with the trial or public access to witness the trial.[9]