Blibli CEO questioned in Indonesia's Chromebook corruption case

Indonesian prosecutors have questioned Kusumo Martanto, CEO of Blibli, as a witness in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving the Ministry of Education’s digitalization of education program from 2019 to 2022.

The case is widely known as the Chromebook corruption case.

Blibli is an ecommerce company owned by the Djarum Group and has been publicly listed since 2022.

Three other witnesses were also questioned this week, including a director of PT Tritunggal Jaya Komputindo, a sales manager from PT Aneka Sakti Bakti, and a consultant specialist from PT Tera Data Indonesia Tbk.

The Attorney General’s Office said the examinations relate to the digitalization of education program, with the investigation focusing on the suspect identified as MUL.

Officials said the witness questioning aims to support evidence gathering and case documentation.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg Technoz

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Indonesia’s education sector remains vulnerable to systematic corruption despite reform efforts

The current Chromebook investigation fits a documented pattern of education sector corruption in Indonesia, where Indonesia Corruption Watch reported that an estimated 40-50% of the education budget was historically misappropriated before reaching students1.
By 2017, Indonesia’s education sector ranked as the third most affected by corruption, with 53 reported cases resulting in state losses totaling Rp 81.8 billion2.
This evolution demonstrates how corruption adapts to government modernization efforts, with digital transformation initiatives creating new opportunities for misappropriation alongside legitimate business partnerships.

Indonesia’s anti-corruption framework faces ongoing challenges with high-profile cases

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) achieved a 100% conviction rate in its first 13 years of operation and helped Indonesia improve its Transparency International ranking from 122nd in 2003 to 88th by 20153.
However, the involvement of major corporate players like Blibli’s parent company in corruption investigations highlights the persistent challenge of preventing private sector complicity in government procurement fraud.
The KPK’s success has historically depended on public support and political independence, but high-profile cases involving established business groups test the institution’s continued effectiveness3.