Google Denies Involvement in $125 Million Chromebook Corruption Case in Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia (AP) – Google has denied any involvement in a corruption case linked to a big project in Indonesia’s Education Ministry. Prosecutors claim this case has caused a loss of $125 million for the state.

The case centers around the purchase of Chromebook laptops, which were intended for digitalizing schools. Nadiem Anwar Makarim, who was Indonesia’s education minister from 2019 to 2024, was arrested in September. He allegedly pushed for the use of Google’s Chromebooks even after a ministry team said they were not effective in areas without internet access.

Makarim is accused of using his position for personal gain. He supposedly influenced the procurement process to benefit his own company, PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB), the parent company of Gojek, a ride-hailing service he co-founded. Prosecutors say he pressured Google to invest in PT AKAB while he was in office.

According to the allegations, Makarim received around 809 billion rupiah (about $48.2 million) related to the Chromebook purchases. More than 1.2 million Chromebooks were bought to strengthen Google’s presence in Indonesia’s education sector. Google reportedly invested around $787 million into PT AKAB during this time.

Testifying in court via Zoom, former Google Asia Pacific president Scott Beaumont stated that there was “no connection at all” between Google’s investment in Gojek and the conversations with the Education Ministry. Another former Google executive, Caesar Sengupta, also denied the claims.

Google has previously described its Chromebooks as suited for classrooms, including in remote areas. They emphasized that while the devices work best with an internet connection, they can still function offline.

Makarim, who graduated from Harvard University, co-founded Gojek in 2009. The company became very valuable, worth over $10 billion by 2019. He left Gojek after that to join the government.

Prosecutors claimed Makarim’s resignation from PT AKAB was a way to hide conflicts of interest. They say he still had control over company decisions through appointed associates.

If found guilty, Makarim could face life in prison. He has denied any wrongdoing and stated he did not personally receive money from the Chromebook purchases. His defense lawyers argue that proper procedures were followed during procurements and that decisions were made by other officials.

The verdict in this important case could be announced as soon as this month. Other individuals, including two former Education Ministry officials and a tech consultant, are also facing charges, while one staff member is still at large.