Indonesia ex-minister claims minimal role in $350M Chromebook trial

Former Indonesian Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim asserted that his involvement in the procurement of Chromebooks was minimal, participating in only five specific discussions during his five-year tenure.

"One of the most important findings from the trial is the minimal discussions involving me on the topic of laptops and Chromebooks," Makarim stated during his defense at the Jakarta Corruption Court. He explained that these few discussions arose when subordinates sought his opinion on laptops for the education digitalization program. In contrast, he engaged in hundreds of discussions concerning application development, which he identified as the program's core objective.

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One of the most important findings from the trial is the minimal discussions involving me on the topic of laptops and Chromebooks.

Makarim emphasized that the selection of IT specifications was a minor component of the broader digitalization initiative, serving merely as an enabling factor rather than its substance. He cited a single meeting dedicated to laptop procurement policy on May 6, 2020, compared to bi-monthly meetings on educational applications throughout his term.

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My chat interactions regarding application development reached hundreds. This happened because the actual selection of IT specifications is only a small part of the overall education digitalization program, merely an enabling factor, not its main substance.

The former minister believes his limited interaction regarding Chromebooks underscores that the program's primary focus was on application development, which he considered more impactful for students, teachers, and lecturers than device selection.

Makarim is currently on trial for alleged corruption related to the digitalization of education program, specifically the procurement of Chromebook laptops and management systems between 2019 and 2022. Prosecutors have requested an 18-year prison sentence, a significant fine, and restitution totaling Rp5.68 trillion (approximately $350 million USD).

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Not on the selection of the laptop devices.