ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The ongoing corruption trial over the procurement of Chromebooks at Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology has taken a dramatic turn.
Prosecutors revealed alleged irregularities surrounding a major investment involving PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (AKAB) — the holding company of GoTo — and Google Indonesia.
The hearing was held at the Corruption Court within the Central Jakarta District Court on February 24, 2026.
USD 786 Million Investment — But Recorded as Only “Several Billion Rupiah”?
According to Prosecutor Roy Riady, the court examined discrepancies in the recording of a USD 786 million investment, which was allegedly reflected in domestic financial records as only “several billion rupiah.”
The significant difference in valuation has raised red flags for prosecutors, who are now scrutinizing the structure of foreign capital involvement within the Chromebook procurement ecosystem.
“Mutualistic Symbiosis” or Financial Engineering?
Prosecutors described the business relationship between PT AKAB and Google Indonesia as a form of “mutualistic symbiosis.”
PT AKAB allegedly boosted Google’s business growth by integrating services such as Google Maps and other Google features into its widely used digital platforms.
In return, PT AKAB reportedly received a 20% cashback from every Google service transaction processed through its platform.
However, prosecutors argued that Google also generated steady revenue from service fees paid by PT AKAB.
The contradiction lies here:
-:Despite receiving 20% cashback, PT AKAB reportedly continued to record operational losses.
– These losses were allegedly driven by monthly installment payments to Google Indonesia amounting to millions of US dollars.
Circular Shareholder Meeting Without Written Agreement?
Testimony from notary witness Jose revealed that a General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS) was conducted via circular resolution — yet allegedly without a formal written agreement underpinning the massive investment.
Prosecutors also highlighted a startling claim from operational finance officials who stated that a company as large as GoTo did not have a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing financial management.
For prosecutors, such an admission is highly unusual for a corporation handling multi-million-dollar transactions and could indicate governance vulnerabilities.
Operational Losses, Rising Share Value
Court disclosures further suggested a possible scheme in which the company consistently reported operational losses while its share valuation increased.
The rise in valuation allegedly benefited certain shareholders, including defendant Nadiem Makarim, who prosecutors claim gained from the surge in company valuation.
“We want to ensure that this legal process remains transparent. It is highly irregular for a major corporation managing millions of dollars to claim it has no financial SOP. We will continue pursuing facts surrounding this investment anomaly to prove state losses,” Prosecutor Roy Riady stated.
Witness Retracts Signature Doubt
In a separate development, witness Khusnul Khotimah from Advan initially questioned the authenticity of her signature in a 2025 Investigation Report (BAP).
To ensure transparency, prosecutors requested the physical document be presented before the panel of judges. After verification in court, the witness acknowledged that the signature was indeed hers.
Prosecutors emphasized that the investigation process complied with legal procedures, noting that the witness was examined in July 2025 with legal counsel present.
Trial Continues as State Losses Remain Central Issue
The trial will proceed with additional witness examinations to strengthen the prosecution’s case regarding alleged state financial losses in the national education digitalization project.
The case has drawn significant public attention, as it involves large-scale technology procurement for public education, foreign investment flows, and the intersection of global technology firms with Indonesia’s domestic digital ecosystem.
Whether this alleged “symbiosis” constitutes legitimate business cooperation or a mechanism contributing to state losses will ultimately be determined in court. (AT Network)
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