Court Hearing on Nadiem: Vendor Claims Chromebook Profit Per Unit of Rp67,000–200,000
Jakarta — Michael Sugiarto, chief executive of PT Tera Data Indonusa (producer of Axioo brand laptops), testified that the profit per unit of Chromebook laptops supplied by his company ranged from Rp67,000 to Rp200,000. Sugiarto provided this testimony whilst being examined as a witness in the ongoing trial concerning allegations of corruption in Chromebook laptop procurement involving former Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim.
The profit figure varies according to the procurement year. Sugiarto stated that in 2021, Tera Data received orders totalling 176,486 Chromebook units.
When asked by Nadiem’s defence counsel, Radhie Noviandi Yusuf, what net profit the company made per unit, Sugiarto replied: “Approximately Rp200,000 including value-added tax.”
In 2021, Tera Data’s profit reached Rp46.3 billion. However, Sugiarto acknowledged that profit fell sharply to Rp67,000 per unit in subsequent years, totalling Rp10.3 billion overall.
The profit figures acknowledged by Sugiarto differ markedly from those cited in the prosecutors’ indictment. According to the prosecution, PT Tera Data Indonesia (Axioo) was unlawfully enriched by approximately Rp177.414 billion.
In this case, former Minister Nadiem Makarim and three other defendants are alleged to have caused state financial losses of Rp2.1 trillion. Nadiem is accused of enriching himself unlawfully to the value of Rp809 billion, allegedly derived from Google investment in Gojek or PT AKAB.
Prosecutors allege this was achieved by directing procurement assessments towards a single product: Chrome-based devices, a Google product. Nadiem allegedly acted in concert with three other defendants: Ibrahim Arief, former technology consultant in the Education Ministry; Mulyatsyah, director of the Secondary Education Directorate in 2020–2021 and budget authorising officer; and Sri Wahyuningsih, director of the Primary Education Directorate in 2020–2021 and budget authorising officer.
The defendants face charges under Article 2 Section (1) and Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Offences, as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001, and Article 55 Section (1) of the Criminal Code.