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The Star
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Alleged laptop procurement graft puts ex-minister Nadiem in spotlight
Former education, culture, research and technology minister Nadiem Makarim (centre) sits next to his lawyers Hotman Paris Hutapea (right) and Mohamad Ali Nurdin (left) during a press briefing in Jakarta. The former minister dismissed allegations of corruption pertaining to the Google Chromebook laptop procurement project in his ministry between 2019 and 2022. - Antara via The Jakarta Post/ANN JAKARTA: After finishing his term as former president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's education minister, Nadiem Makarim is back in the public spotlight in the Attorney General's Office's (AGO) investigation into alleged corruption pertaining to a procurement project during his ministerial tenure. Investigators with the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for Extraordinary Crimes (Jampidsus) launched an investigation in May into alleged graft related to the procurement of Google Chromebook laptops by the then-education, culture, research and technology ministry between 2019 and 2022. Investigators interrogated at least 28 witnesses. Among them was Fiona Handayani, one of Nadiem's special staffers, who was summoned by the AGO on Tuesday (June 10) for an interrogation session. The AGO previously confiscated her laptop and mobile phones during a raid last month. AGO spokesperson Harli Siregar said that investigators planned to call in two of Nadiem's other former special staffers, identified as Jurist Tan and Ibrahim Arief, for questioning this week Investigators also seized their phones and computers as well as other documents from their houses during a recent raid. The AGO also slapped the three former special staffers with a travel ban on June 4, as they failed to fulfil a summons for an interrogation. According to the AGO, the procurement cost around Rp 9.9 trillion (US$607 million), around two-thirds of which was taken from a special allocated fund originally earmarked to be transferred by the central government to regional administrations. Harli said that investigators found indications of collusion to procure Chromebook laptops to be distributed to schools around the country. The Google-based laptops were picked despite initial tests in 2018 by the ministries' research team that discouraged the use of laptops because of their lack of effectiveness in regions without internet connections. He added that investigators also probed an allegation of price markup for the laptop. While Jampidsus investigators already had the name of five vendors allegedly involved in the case, Harli did not elaborate further on Google's role in the illicit practice. A representative of Google Indonesia was not immediately available to respond to The Jakarta Post's request for comment. The Jampidsus investigators were still looking for the people managing the procurement project as well as the mastermind who first proposed the idea. During a press briefing on Tuesday, Nadiem denied allegations of collusion to favour the Chromebook over other laptops. He also rebuked claims that his ministry dismissed the 2018 study outlining the laptop's disadvantage, claiming that the research was done before he took office in October 2024 and focussed on gadgets for schools in less developed and remote areas. 'Meanwhile, the laptop procurement during my term of office was not targeted for remote and less developed areas,' Nadiem said in the televised press conference. He added that the gadgets were intended to prevent 'learning loss' among students in areas with established digital infrastructure and internet connections during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as to help educators in their teaching process. Nadiem picked famed lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea to represent him in the matter. The lawyer argued that allegations made by AGO investigators missed the mark. 'Nadiem never veered [from the study's results] because the study [and Nadiem's Chromebook procurement] were two different projects. They cannot be linked to each other,' Hotman said. The former education minister further claimed the programme was a success, with 97 per cent of the 1.1 million Chromebook laptops procured during his term delivered to 77,000 schools by 2023. He also claimed that his ministry undertook a 'periodic census' to count the laptops. Despite dismissing the allegations of involvement in the case, Nadiem said that he was 'ready to cooperate' and support investigators by providing needed information or clarification on the investigation. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Alleged laptop procurement graft puts ex-Indonesia education minister Nadiem in spotlight
Investigators also probed an allegation of price markup for the laptop. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PIXABAY JAKARTA - After finishing his term as former president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's education minister Nadiem Makarim is back in the public spotlight in the Attorney General's Office's (AGO) investigation into alleged corruption pertaining to a procurement project during his ministerial tenure. Investigators with the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for Extraordinary Crimes (Jampidsus) launched an investigation in May into alleged graft related to the procurement of Google Chromebook laptops by the then-education, culture, research and technology ministry between 2019 and 2022. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
USA Today
20-05-2025
- USA Today
What is the Chromebook Challenge? The trend that has students destroying school laptops
What is the Chromebook Challenge? The trend that has students destroying school laptops Show Caption Hide Caption Chromebook challenge prompts concern among schools Schools are taking precaution amid the dangerous 'Chromebook Challenge' circulating on social media where kids are destroying the laptops. Fox - Fox 29 The Chromebook Challenge gained traction on TikTok in May. The trend encourages students to stick small items into school-assigned Google Chromebook USB ports. A New Jersey high school student has been arrested and charged with third-degree arson and criminal mischief for participating in the challenge at school. The Chromebook Challenge is dangerous because placing items into a laptop's USB port can cause the device to short circuit, resulting in excess heat, smoke or even fire. A new social media challenge encourages students to not hop on the latest dance trend or pour buckets of ice over their heads, but intentionally destroy school property. The "Chromebook Challenge," which began on TikTok in early May, encourages students to stick small items like paperclips or pencils inside of their school-assigned Google Chromebooks' USB ports, all in hope for a small cloud of smoke or better yet, a spark, to ignite. The challenge gained nationwide attention after a 15-year-old high school student in Belleville, New Jersey was arrested and charged with third-degree arson and criminal mischief for intentionally manipulating his Chromebook as part of the challenge on May 8, a Belleville Police Department news release states. The laptop, which was left outside of a classroom while students and staff evacuated the school, emitted smoke and was charred when police and firefighters arrived. As schools across the country warn students and parents about this new trend, here's what to know about the Chromebook Challenge, including how schools and TikTok itself, are handling the fallout. What is the Chromebook Challenge? The Chromebook Challenge encourages students with school-assigned Google Chromebooks to shove small items, like paperclips or graphite pencils, into the laptop's USB ports, which can result in smoke, fire or even an explosion. More TikTok news: Alabama sues TikTok: State AG accuses app of fueling youth mental health crisis Is the Chromebook Challenge dangerous? Yes, the Chromebook Challenge is dangerous. Placing items like paperclips inside a Chromebook's USB port can cause the laptop to short-circuit, generating heat, sparks, and smoke. For example, by placing a paperclip into a laptop's USB port, the paperclip becomes a pathway for electricity to travel outside of its intended circuit path, the National Fire Protection Association states. This can lead to a short circuit, which could result in the generation of excess heat. Laptops contain lithium-ion batteries. When these batteries are heated too much, it can lead to toxic gas generation, fire and even explosions, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Even if noticeable damage doesn't occur after placing something like a paperclip into a Chromebook's USB port, there is an increased risk of malfunction. The malfunction can be minimal, like the USB port no longer working, or result in something more serious, like toxic gas generation, the National Fire Protection Association states. How are schools responding to the Chromebook Challenge? School districts across the country are sending letters to parents and using social media to educate about the Chromebook Challenge, in addition to the repercussions students may face if they participate. Most districts outline that students will be held financially responsible for a full replacement cost of a new laptop, which hovers around $300. Two senior high school students at the San Diego Unified School District encouraged their peers in a blog post to avoid participating in the challenge. "Truthfully, it's just dumb. These computers are lent to us so we can better learn. It's wasteful, dangerous and everyone loses," Scripps Ranch High School senior Quinton Baldis said in the blog post. "I'm highly advising my classmates to not join in on this careless trend. We're better than this." New Hampshire's Cooperative Middle School Principal Drew Bairstow shared in a letter to parents that over the course of three days, at least 15 incidents of students intentionally damaging their Chromebooks had been reported. On May 9, Jackson County Public Schools in North Carolina shared a photo of a burned Chromebook on social media. As of May 19, the school district confirmed four cases of Chromebooks that fell victim to the challenge, Jackson County Public Schools Public Information Officer Shaneka Allen told USA TODAY. "This behavior is not only extremely dangerous but also a direct violation of school policy and is considered vandalism," the school district shared in a social media statement. "We are asking all families to have a serious conversation with their students about the significant dangers and consequences of participating in this trend." How is TikTok responding to the Chromebook Challenge? As of May 20, TikTok did not generate any content from the search, "Chromebook Challenge." "Some online challenges can be dangerous, disturbing or even fabricated," a pop-up on the platform reads. "Learn how to recognize harmful challenges so you can protect your health and well-being." TikTok then directs users to resources for determining if an online challenge is safe to participate in and how to report one that isn't. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police: 3 Classical students robbed while walking home
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Police are investigating after three Providence teenagers were robbed in broad daylight while walking home from school Tuesday. Josh Estrella, a spokesperson for the capital city, told 12 News three Classical High School students were walking down Broad Street shortly after dismissal when two men approached them. The suspects stole a gold necklace and a backpack containing a Google Chromebook from the students before taking off, Estrella added. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Providence Police Department by calling (401) 272-3121. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
