Nadiem: Google Bukan Vendor Pengadaan Chromebook

Nadiem Makarim/ANTARA FOTO/Rivan Awal Lingga/nz

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim, through his legal advisor, Ari Yusuf Amir, confirmed that Google was not a vendor for procuring school learning digitalization tools in the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebook laptops.

"Google also confirmed that they were not vendors in the procurement, they were only software distributors," said Ari while reading Nadiem's letter after the interim ruling at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday, January 12, reported by ANTARA.

In the case, said Ari, Google stated that it had no conflict of interest with Nadiem because the majority of Gojek's investment with Google had been established before Nadiem became Minister of Education.

"Alhamdulillah, Google has opened its voice and explained in a clear and open manner that there is no conflict of interest with Nadiem," he said.

In addition, continued Ari, Google stated that the Chromebook laptop is the number one laptop and can be used without the internet for education and learning in schools.

Nadiem, in a letter read by Ari, also said Google's clarification could answer questions about his role in the public prosecutor's indictment in the alleged corruption case for the procurement of digital learning tools, Chromebooks.

"Hopefully this will answer the various distorted narratives that have been spread for months," he said.

In the case of alleged corruption in the education digitization program in the form of the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) in the environment of the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2019-2022, Nadiem is accused of corruption that has caused losses to the state treasury worth IDR 2.18 trillion.

Corruption, among others, was carried out by carrying out the procurement of learning facilities based on information and communication technology in the form of Chromebook laptops and CDM in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 budget years which were not in accordance with the procurement planning and procurement principles.

The alleged act was carried out together with three other defendants who have been tried, namely Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, Mulyatsyah, and Sri Wahyuningsih, as well as Jurist Tan, who is currently still at large.

In detail, the losses caused by the state include Rp1.56 trillion related to the education digitization program at the Ministry of Education and Culture, as well as 44.05 million US dollars or the equivalent of Rp621.39 billion due to the procurement of CDM that is not necessary and not useful in the education digitization program.

With this act, Nadiem is suspected of having received money amounting to IDR 809.59 billion originating from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) through PT Gojek Indonesia.

It is stated that most of PT AKAB's money comes from Google's investment of US$786.99 million.

This can be seen from Nadiem's wealth which is recorded in the LHKPN in 2022, namely there is an acquisition of property in the form of securities worth IDR 5.59 trillion.

For his actions, the former Minister of Education and Culture is threatened with a criminal penalty as stipulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.