In Chromebook Trial, Nadiem Questioned by Prosecutors Regarding Google Cloud Case at KPK
Jakarta — The Public Prosecutor (JPU) questioned former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim regarding his examination at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) concerning the procurement of Google Cloud services.
This was raised by prosecutors when Nadiem was examined as a witness in a continuation hearing of the alleged corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops for three defendants.
The three defendants are: former Technology Consultant at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ibrahim Arief; Director of Junior Secondary Schools at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology for 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority (KPA) Mulyatsyah; and Director of Primary Schools at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology for 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority (KPA) Sri Wahyuningsih.
“This Cloud programme, you were previously examined at the KPK as well? To provide information?” asked prosecutor Roy Riady during the hearing at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday (10/3/2026).
Before questioning Nadiem about the KPK examination, the Public Prosecutor first examined the cooperation between Google and the company formerly established by Nadiem, PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (AKAB).
“Did the agreement between PT AKAB and Google include Google Cloud and Google Maps, which improved PT AKAB’s business performance? That is correct, is it not?” asked prosecutor Roy Riady.
“That did not improve business performance. It was a fundamental requirement to operate a mobility application, for cars and motorcycles,” Nadiem replied.
The Public Prosecutor then read out documents from the prospectus agreement. As of 31 July 2021, PT AKAB owed Google 1.6 million United States dollars.
Nadiem claimed he was unaware of this debt because he had not held any position at PT AKAB or Gojek since his appointment as minister in 2019.
Nadiem is accused of enriching himself by approximately 809 billion rupiah. This figure is said to derive from Google’s investment in Gojek or PT AKAB.
Nadiem is said to have abused his authority, making Google the sole controller of information technology procurement, including laptops, in Indonesia’s technology ecosystem. This was allegedly done by directing procurement assessments towards a single product: Chrome-based devices, which are Google products.
Nadiem is alleged to have carried out this conduct together with the three other defendants: former Technology Consultant at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ibrahim Arief; Director of Junior Secondary Schools at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology for 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority (KPA) Mulyatsyah; and Director of Primary Schools at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology for 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority (KPA) Sri Wahyuningsih.
For their alleged conduct, Nadiem and the other defendants face charges under Articles 2(1) and 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 on the eradication of corruption offences, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) subsection 1 of the Indonesian Criminal Code.