After Nadiem Presents Teachers at Trial, Lawyer Calls Chromebook Case 'Ghostly'

The continuation of the trial regarding alleged corruption in the Chromebook procurement, held at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, became a significant moment for the defendant Nadiem Makarim.

In the hearing, Nadiem’s side presented an education expert and several educators from various regions to refute the charges related to the programme’s inefficiency and alleged state losses.

Nadiem’s legal counsel, Ari Yusuf Amir, described the case as a “ghostly” one because, in his view, many of the prosecution’s narratives are unsupported by trial facts.

“Why do I call it a ghostly case? Because there is a story, but no facts. There are so many stories built, narratives created, but when it reaches the trial, they are all raw,” he said, quoted on Thursday, 23 April 2026.

He explained that the teachers were presented as witnesses because they directly experience the benefits of Chromebooks in teaching and learning activities.

“They are the ones who feel it directly, who use it directly, who wear it directly. So it’s not hearsay, to ensure this case does not become a ghostly one,” he said.

Ari also responded to allegations of a Rp809 billion fund flow linked to Nadiem. According to him, the funds are part of normal business processes and not related to the Chromebook procurement.

“Google’s investment in GoTo is a normal business process. They are minority shareholders, not majority as has been mentioned,” he stated.

In the trial, Nadiem admitted that this hearing was one of the most emotional moments for him because seven teachers from Aceh to Papua came to provide testimony on the impact of using Chromebooks in their respective schools.

“The most emotional trial for me. Because seven teachers from Aceh to Papua, all flew here to give testimony on how Chromebooks have changed the teaching and learning patterns in their classrooms,” he said.

Several teachers presented as experts stated that Chromebooks remain beneficial even in areas with internet limitations.

Denny Adelyta Tofani Novitasari, a teacher from Sorong City, Southwest Papua, said the device helps students understand lessons through virtual practice.

“I guide students to do virtual Chemistry practice, and that can be done using Chromebooks. We have touchscreen ones, so it makes it easier for children to understand learning,” she said.