Prosecutors state former Education Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim received Rp809.59 billion related to alleged corruption in Chromebook laptop procurement. His legal counsel denies this, calling the transaction a pure internal corporate matter and noting Nadiem's wealth dropped 51 percent during his tenure. A legal expert emphasizes that negligence can still lead to criminal charges if it causes state financial loss.
Jakarta – In the ongoing alleged corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), prosecutors accuse Nadiem Anwar Makarim of receiving Rp809.59 billion. The claim relates to a fund transfer from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) to PT Gojek Indonesia in 2021.
Nadiem's legal advisor, Dodi Abdulkadir, strongly denies the allegation. "The Rp809.59 billion transfer from PT AKAB to PT Gojek Indonesia in 2021 was a pure internal corporate transaction of PT AKAB," Dodi stated in Jakarta on Tuesday evening. He explained it was an administrative step ahead of PT AKAB's Initial Public Offering (IPO). Dodi has corporate documentation proving Nadiem received not a single rupiah from the transaction, with no personal gain or enrichment of others. "His wealth actually dropped 51 percent while serving as minister," he added.
Dodi also refutes any link between Google's investment in PT AKAB and the ministry's selection of Chrome OS. Nearly 70 percent of Google's investment entered in 2018, about 1.5 years before Nadiem became minister. Google's additional shares of 7.04 percent in 2020 and 4.72 percent in 2022 were merely to avoid dilution from new investors, with PT AKAB's total investments exceeding 9 billion US dollars.
Nadiem never ordered or intervened in choosing Chromebooks or Chrome OS. His role was limited to providing an opinion on a presentation by Ibrahim Arief comparing Chrome OS to Windows OS. Technical decisions were made independently by the team, while unit pricing was set by the Commitment-Making Official (PPK).
Criminal law expert from Trisakti University, Abdul Hadjar Fickar, states that the criminal focus is not solely on personal fund flows but on actions causing state financial loss. "Mens rea has two forms: intent and negligence. If someone neither intends nor is negligent, they should be freed," he said on December 17, 2025. Negligence in supervising subordinates can fulfill criminal elements if it leads to state loss, though punishment is lighter than for intentional acts. The Rp809 billion procurement value must still be proven in court, including unlawful acts. Fickar urges the public to leave the case to the legal process.
