Chromebook procurement scandal

The Chromebook procurement scandal or Chromebookgate is an corruption case under ongoing investigation by Attorney General's Office of Indonesia (Kejagung) since 20 May 2025.[1] The scandal involves the procurement of Chromebook laptops worth IDR 9.9 trillion by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) and its predecessor Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud), between 2019 and 2023.[2]

Background

According to Harli Siregar, the head of legal information centre (Kapuspenkum) at Kejagung, the case began in 2020 when Kemendikbudristek designed the budget for procurement of technological devices for Minimal Competence Assessment (AKM). The technical team originally recommended them to use Microsoft Windows operating system, but instead they later changed to Chromebook for unclear reasons. He also put forward that the state budget of IDR 9.98 trillion included IDR 3.58 trillion specially allocated for the procurement, and IDR 6.39 trillion from specially-allocated funds (DAK).[3] However, back in 2019, Communication and Technology Centre (Pustekom) at Kemendikbud conducted trials on Chromebooks, and concluded that its use would be uneffective, since it requires internet connection, while its access remained not widespread throughout Indonesia.[4][2]

Investigation

The head of legal information centre at Kejagung, Harli Siregar, alleged that there was an evil conspiracy in this case,[2] and some laptops may have been distributed into local schools.[1] He also stated that Kejagung has sent a letter of notification of investigation commencement (SPDP) to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).[5] Kejagung later revealed that there are five vendors involved in this scandal, the names include laptop manufacturers PT Bangga Technology Indonesia (Advan Digital), PT Tera Data Indonesia (Axioo), and PT Zyrexindo Mandiri Buana (Zyrex); office electronics provider PT Evercoss Technology Indonesia (Evercoss) and PT Supertone (SPC).[6]

Currently, 40 witnesses surrounding the scandal have been examined by Kejagung.[7] Among them in early June 2025, 2 (later 3)[8] of them were the special staffs under then-minister Nadiem Makarim.[9] They also ransacked two apartment rooms owned by both former staffs, each located at Kuningan Place and The Orchard Satrio @ Ciputra World 2, successfully confiscating various documents as well as electronics,[10] including 4 smartphones, 2 laptops, 15 agenda books, a flashdisk, and other documents. It is believed that their real names are Fiona Handayani, who once served as an analyst from McKinsey & Company and a staff of the vice governor of Jakarta, and Jurist Tan, who involved during the early development of Gojek.[11]

Former special staff Ibrahim Arief arrived at Kejagung building at 10 a.m. on 12 June, since he was to be questioned as a witness in the scandal.[12] However, his attorney, Indra Haposan Sihombing denied the special staff status.[13] On 23 June, Nadiem arrived to Gedung Bundar in order to be investigated by Kejagung.[14] He was also prevented for travelling overseas for 6 months.[15]

Reactions

The Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Fajar Riza Ul Haq, stated that his institution will respect the investigation process by Kejagung surrounding the case. He also noted that the program has been ended during Nadiem's leadership.[16] Political analyst Hendri Satrio remarked on his Twitter (X) account that "even devils are angry" on the scandal.[17] Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) found various oddities in the scandal, including being not urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic, violating the Presidential Regulation Number 123 of 2020, not listed on Public Procurement Plan Information System.[18]

In response to the scandal, former education and culture minister at the time, Nadiem Makarim, accompanied by lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea and two other law experts, arrived at a press conference at Nusantara Foyer Room, The Darmawangsa in Jakarta on 10 June 2025.[19] He claimed that the prices of individual Chromebooks are 10–30% cheaper at average, and the installation of ChromeOS is free compared to other operating systems.[20] He also acknowledged that his institution had distributed 1.1 million laptops, 3G modems, and projectors into more than 77,000 schools throughout Indonesia.[21]

The Financial and Construction Supervision Agency (BPKP) claimed that it has notified numerous recommendations to Kemendikbudristek between 2023 and 2024 regarding the program, including target accuracy, term, specification, and amount of laptops.[22] In 2021, long before the scandal surfaced to the public, politician Djoko Edhi Abdurrahman connected the scandal with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who acquired 51% stakes in PT Zyrexindo Mandiri Buana TBK (ZYRX). The company then received from Kemendikbudristek, a procurement contract of 165,000 laptops worth IDR 700 billion.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Pengadaannya Diusut Kejagung, Laptop Chromebook Sudah Tersebar ke Daerah". kompas.com. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  2. ^ a b c "Modus Korupsi Chromebook Senilai Rp9,9 Triliun di Kemendikbudristek". liputan6.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  3. ^ "Awal Mula Mega Korupsi Pengadaan Laptop Rp9,9 Triliun Kemendikbud Ristek Terbongkar, Modus Ganti OS". tribunnews.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  4. ^ "Uji Coba Gagal, Kok Dipaksakan? Kejagung Usut Dugaan Korupsi Laptop Chromebook Kemendikbudristek Rp9,9 Triliun". radarsampit.jawapos.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  5. ^ "KPK Masih Penyelidikan, Kejagung Kirim SPDP Kasus Chromebook". inilah.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  6. ^ "Kejagung Ungkap Sudah Kantongi 5 Vendor Kasus Chromebook Rp 9,9 Triliun di Kemendikbudristek". news.republika.co.id. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  7. ^ "Kejagung Telah Periksa 40 Saksi di Kasus Korupsi Pengadaan Laptop Chromebook". nasional.kompas.com. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  8. ^ "Kejagung Mulai Periksa 3 Stafsus Nadiem Makarim Terkait Kasus Chromebook Rp 9,9 Triliun". nasional.kompas.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  9. ^ "Kejagung periksa 28 saksi kasus korupsi "Chromebook" Kemendikbudristek". antaranews.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  10. ^ "Kejagung Geledah Apartemen 2 Stafsus Eks Mendikbud di Kasus Pengadaan Laptop". news.detik.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  11. ^ "Skandal Rp9,9 Triliun! Dua Staf Nadiem Diseret Kejagung Terkait Korupsi Chromebook". infoaceh.net. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  12. ^ "Ibrahim Eks Stafsus Nadiem Penuhi Panggilan Kejagung Terkait Chromebook". nasional.kompas.com. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  13. ^ "Kasus Chromebook, Kuasa Hukum Ibrahim Arif Bantah Kliennya Stafsus Nadiem". tempo.co. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  14. ^ "Nadiem Makarim Diperiksa Kejagung soal Kasus Pengadaan Laptop Hari Ini". news.detik.com. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  15. ^ "Kejagung Cegah Nadiem Makarim ke Luar Negeri". news.detik.com. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  16. ^ "Kemendikdasmen Hormati Kejagung Usut Kasus Korupsi Chromebook". tirto.id. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  17. ^ "Uang Pendidikan Digondol hingga Rp9,9 Triliun? Hendri Satrio: Setan Aja Marah Tuh". fajar.co.id. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  18. ^ "ICW Beberkan Kejanggalan Proyek Chromebook Rp 9,9 Triliun Era Nadiem". merahputih.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  19. ^ "Nadiem Makarim Didampingi Hotman Paris untuk Bicara Kasus Chromebook". nasional.kompas.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  20. ^ "Nadiem Jelaskan Alasan Pilih Chromebook untuk Proyek Pengadaan Laptop". news.detik.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  21. ^ "Kasus Korupsi Chromebook, Nadiem Akui Kemendikbudristek Beli 1,1 Juta Laptop Saat Pandemi Covid-19". video.kompas.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  22. ^ "BPKP Klaim Sudah Memperingatkan Kemendikbud Sejak Lama Soal Korupsi Chromebook". metrotvnews.com. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  23. ^ "Kejagung Usut Dugaan Korupsi Laptop Rp 9,9 Triliun di Era Nadiem, Nama Luhut Diseret". infoaceh.net. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
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