Initial Hearing Postponed, Legal Counsel Clarifies Charges: Nadiem Did Not Benefit in the Slightest

Jakarta, December 16, 2025 - The initial trial of the alleged corruption case involving the selection of Chrome OS or Chromebooks was postponed today due to Nadiem Makarim's health condition, which is still in recovery and requires serious medical attention following surgery for a fistula on Friday (12/12). The trial was briefly opened but was ultimately rescheduled until his health condition stabilizes.

Nevertheless, the Public Prosecutor read the indictment for the trial of the other three defendants. Dr. Dodi S. Abdulkadir, BSc., S.E., S.H., M.H., representing the Legal Advisory Team, explained, “The indictments misplace authority by blurring the line between Ministerial policy and technical procurement execution. Considering all the facts, it is unequivocal that our client, Nadiem Makarim, did not commit any acts of corruption and did not profit even a cent. The allegation that Nadiem benefited by IDR 809 billion is false and all the evidence will be revealed during the trial.”

Main Indictment and Factual Explanation

• The Chrome OS selection policy followed all regulations, passed two audits by the Audit Board of Finance & Development (BPKP), and does not constitute a crime. The procurement of laptops with Chrome OS was handled by the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) appointed by the Director under the Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Dirjen PAUD Dikdasmen). Determining the specifications of ICT devices is merely one of the ten annexes of the Permendikbud 5/2021, drafted by the Director General as per the provisions in Permendikbud No 142/2014 concerning Guidelines for Formation of Permendikbud.

  
  

• Nadiem has never given orders, directions, or decisions to choose Chromebooks or ChromeOS. Nadiem's role was only to provide input on presentations and feedback given by Ibrahim Arief regarding the use of Chrome OS compared to Windows OS.

  
  

• The entire selection process for Chrome OS has undergone a study and evaluation involving an internal team from the Ministry of Education, Attorney General's Civil and State Administration Sector (JAMDATUN), BPKP, and the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU). The assessment was conducted by a Technical Team appointed based on the Director General's decree of PAUD Dikdasmen. Every decision made by the Technical Team was made independently without any intervention from Nadiem. At the same time, the pricing of laptops with Chrome OS was determined by the Commitment Making Officer (PPK).

• There is no state financial loss, as Chrome OS actually saved the budget by at least IDR 1.2 trillion. If using Windows OS, the state would have to pay a license fee of approximately IDR 1.2 trillion (USD 50×1.6 million laptops), not including annual device management subscriptions. Meanwhile, Chrome OS does not require additional licensing.

  
  

• According to the Implementation Guidelines (September 2020) and Technical Guidelines (February 2021), laptops with Chrome OS are only distributed to schools with adequate electrical infrastructure and internet access, not in the Lagging, Foremost, Outermost (3T) areas. As for the 3T areas, Nadiem developed various other programs such as Quality Reading Books, the Moving Cloud Program, BOS Complex, and the One Million Honorary Teachers program (appointment of honorary teachers as State Civil Apparatus) which have successfully supported the principles of equity and fairness in education access.

  
  

• To date, laptops based on Chrome OS and Chrome Device Management (CDM) have proven effective in protecting students from misuse of laptops with Chrome OS, as centralized settings restrict usage solely for learning, blocking online gambling sites, gaming apps, and pornographic content.

Nadiem Is Not Corrupt and Did Not Profit Even a Cent

• There is no evidence that Nadiem received personal gains or enriched others. His assets actually decreased by 51%* during his tenure as Minister.

  
  

• There is no connection between Google's investment in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) and the selection of Chrome OS at the Ministry of Education. Almost 70% of Google's investment in PT AKAB occurred in 2018, nearly 1.5 years before Nadiem assumed the position of Minister. Google's additional shareholding in 2020 (7.04%) and 2022 (4.72%) was merely a step by Google to avoid dilution and restore the percentage of Google's ownership that was significantly reduced due to the influx of new investors, from the total investment received by PT AKAB from all investors, amounting to more than USD 9 billion.

  
  

• The transfer of funds amounting to IDR 809,596,125,000 from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) to PT Gojek Indonesia in 2021 was purely a corporate transaction internal to PT AKAB, with no connection to Nadiem or the policies of the Ministry of Education and Culture. We have evidence through corporate documentation that Nadiem did not receive even a cent from this transaction. This transaction was an administrative step taken by PT AKAB in 2021 as part of corporate governance, prior to the implementation of the initial public offering (IPO).

Meanwhile, Dr. Ari Yusuf Amir, S.H., M.H., stated that the Legal Advisory Team received the Indictment Letter which was not yet completed with a List of Evidence, which is a crucial requirement in the preparation of the defense. “To date, the team has also not received the BPKP audit report related to the calculation of state financial losses, which is a key element in proving the crime of corruption. Therefore, our client will fully use his right to defense, including through reverse proof, to demonstrate that Nadiem did not commit the crime as alleged and that there are no assets or wealth of Nadiem that originated from corruption.”

Footnote:

*Based on the National Public Official Wealth Report (LHKPN)