Indonesia Probes Multi-Billion Dollar Chromebook Deal
Google Representative Questioned in Alleged State Loss Case
Jakarta’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is intensifying its investigation into a significant alleged corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). The deal, spanning from 2019 to 2022, is suspected of causing state losses potentially reaching Rp1.9 trillion.
Key Players Summoned
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the AGO summoned representatives from tech giants Google and Telkom to provide testimony as witnesses. The examination is directly linked to the controversial laptop acquisition. While a Google representative, identified by the initials PRA, appeared as scheduled, the Telkom representative was absent.
“Today’s examination is related to the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops. Two witnesses were summoned, one from Google and one from Telkom,” stated Anang Supriatna, Head of the AGO’s Legal Information Center. He confirmed, “Only the Google representative showed up.”
Concerns Over Irregularities and Investments
The AGO suspects illegal practices tainted the Chromebook procurement, including manipulation of official assessments that initially favored laptops with the Windows operating system. These initial evaluations deemed Chromebooks less effective, particularly due to Indonesia’s varied internet infrastructure.
Despite this, a review in June 2020 saw the decision shift to Chromebooks. The total procurement budget for this initiative was a staggering Rp9.9 trillion, with Rp6.3 trillion sourced from special allocation funds. Prosecutors are also examining Google’s investment in PT Gojek Tokopedia Tbk (GoTo) as a potential influencing factor in the Chromebook selection process.
Timeline of Suspected Influence
The name PRA, representing Google, has surfaced previously in connection with meetings held in February and April 2020. During these sessions, PRA and other Google officials reportedly discussed ICT procurement concepts with the then-Minister Nadiem Makarim. These discussions were allegedly followed up by Nadiem’s former special staffer, Jurist Tan (JT), who proposed a 30 percent co-investment from Google for the ministry’s ICT procurement involving ChromeOS devices.
Jurist Tan has since been named a suspect in the case. Other individuals charged include former ministry consultant Ibrahim Arief, Director of Elementary Education Sri Wahyuningsih, and Director of Junior High Education Mulatsyah. To date, the AGO has interviewed 80 witnesses and three experts as part of their ongoing investigation.
This investigation echoes broader concerns about technology procurement in education. For example, a 2023 report by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) highlighted issues with the quality and suitability of digital learning tools provided to schools, emphasizing the need for transparency and rigorous technical evaluation in government tech purchases (YLKI 2023).
