Google Execs Testify in Indonesia Corruption Trial

0:00It's April 20th. Welcome in. This is Global News Today, where the world meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Former Google Exxious testified in a big corruption trial in Indonesia, denying any shady deals with the ex-education minister over a laptop. Procurement that prosecutors say cost the government $125 million. The case centers on Nadiam Anwar Makareem, the 41-year-old former minister who pushed for Google Chromebooks in schools back in 2022. Even though experts warned they wouldn't work well without steady internet in remote areas. Makareem, a Harvard grad and Gojek co-founder, got arrested last September. Prosecutors claim he steered the deal to pressure Google into investing in. His old company, hiding his influence through associates after he supposedly stepped away. Google's side insists their laptops handle offline use fine, and they don't control pricing, while Makareem's team points out his wealth dropped over. 50% in office, and he fully divested before taking the job.

1:02With a verdict possibly dropping this month and other officials facing charges too, this saga highlights the tightrope between tech pushes and public. Funds, and Indonesia's education overhaul.