Judge Reveals Ibam's Role as Sole Negotiating Partner with Google
The panel of judges stated that the honour received by former consultant to ex-Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, amounted to Rp 163 million per month. The judge declared that Ibam played the role of sole negotiating partner with Google in the Chromebook case.
This was conveyed by judge member Sunoto while reading out Ibam’s verdict at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (12/5/2026). Initially, the judge explained the interpretation of Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law in Ibam’s case.
“The Panel of Judges views that such arguments cannot be justified. Therefore, qualitate qua in the sense of Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law does not need to be proven through formal documents such as work orders, honour receipts, or approval sheets, but can be proven from a series of facts showing the existence of that position de facto,” said the judge.
The judge stated that Ibam attended the Ministry of Education’s strategic meetings consistently, and served as the presenter on Chromebooks before Nadiem. The judge said Ibam also acted as the sole negotiating partner with Google.
“In which the defendant’s consistent presence in the ministry’s strategic meetings, the defendant’s role as Chromebook presenter before the minister, the inclusion of the defendant’s name in three consecutive ministerial decisions, the honourarium of Rp 163 million per month received by the defendant, the defendant’s direct communication with the ministry’s structural officials, and the defendant’s role as the sole negotiating partner with Google,” said the judge.
The judge stated that Ibam’s role strengthened the engineer leader position given by Nadiem. The judge declared that Ibam was not a neutral and independent consultant.
“Objectively strengthening the defendant’s position as engineer leader in the Wartek Team and Technical Team, which is a position within the meaning of Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law as functionally interpreted by the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court,” said the judge.
Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison
Previously, Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam was sentenced to 4 years in prison. The judge stated that Ibam was guilty in the alleged corruption case of Chromebook and Chrome Device Management (CDM) procurement.
“Declaring the Defendant Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing corruption in conjunction as charged subsidiarily,” said the chief judge Purwanto S Abdullah while reading the decision at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (12/5).
“Imposing a prison sentence on the Defendant Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam of 4 years,” added the judge.
Ibam was also fined Rp 500 million. If the fine is not paid, it will be replaced with imprisonment for 120 days.
The judge stated that Ibam was guilty of violating Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 first of the old Criminal Code.
This verdict is far lower than the prosecutors’ demand. Previously, Ibam was demanded 15 years in prison, a fine of Rp 1 billion subsidiarily 190 days imprisonment. The prosecutors also demanded Ibam pay restitution of Rp 16.92 billion subsidiarily 7 years and 6 months imprisonment.