Nadiem Requests Judge to Summon Google Executives as Witnesses in Chromebook Case

JAKARTA — Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim has asked the bench to summon Google executives to be examined as witnesses in the Chromebook-based laptop corruption case that has ensnared him. ‘Please help the bench to also invite Google superiors to clarify this issue so that everything is open,’ Nadiem said during a session at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday, 5 March 2026. When the request was made, Nadiem was asking about a 30 percent co-investment with former staffers, namely Fiona Handayani, and a former consultant within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Ibrahim Arief. Meanwhile, Nadiem and his special staff understand the co-investment as corporate social responsibility (CSR), a funding programme more akin to a donation. The official name of this co-investment is the Partner Service Fund (PSF) programme. ‘What does the 30 percent refer to? It is fine to open up, 30 percent of what? So that the judges clearly understand 30 percent of what. 100 percent of what is the numerator of the 30 percent?’ Nadiem asked. Fiona explained that the 30% figure is taken from Chrome Device Management (CDM), not the procurement of Chromebook laptops. Meanwhile, Ibrahim considered the co-investment programme similar to technical support, where Google provides technical training to countries using its products. ‘But technically, as far as I know, what I have always imagined is technical support,’ Ibrahim said. The witnesses said the co-investment did not go into the pockets of ministry officials. Then Nadiem referred to two companies designated by Google to conduct training under the PSF programme. ‘Yes, I have heard of GITS and REFO; if I’m not mistaken, they were mentioned in the BAP,’ Ibrahim replied. Nadiem asked all the witnesses present, and all admitted they did not hold shares in the two companies named by Google.