Nadiem Makarim, the founder of the Indonesian super-app Gojek and a former education minister, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of corruption. The case stems from a school laptop procurement deal during his tenure as minister.
Makarim, 41, was accused of manipulating the tender to enrich himself, a charge he denied. Prosecutors alleged that the ministry purchased Chromebooks for schools between 2021 and 2022, despite determining in 2018 that the devices required an internet connection, making them unsuitable for remote areas. The prosecution claimed Makarim favored Google, a Gojek investor, by tailoring tender specifications to favor Chrome systems, thereby aiming to make Google the sole controller of Indonesia's education ecosystem.
Prosecutors stated that Makarim's actions violated anti-corruption pledges and harmed the education system, causing $125 million in state losses. He was ordered to pay restitution of 809 billion rupiah ($45 million) or serve an additional five years in prison. He also faces a one billion rupiah fine, with an additional 190 days in jail if unpaid. Makarim has stated he is unable to pay the restitution, effectively extending his sentence to 15 years.
Makarim maintained his innocence, arguing that the funds in question remained within Gojek's accounts and he had not personally accessed them. He also denied any link between Google's investment in Gojek and the procurement decision, asserting that the Chromebook purchase ultimately reduced costs for the government.
Makarim served as education minister until 2024, having left Gojek in 2019 to join the government of former president Joko Widodo. Critics of the Indonesian authorities have suggested the case against him is based on weak evidence and is part of a government campaign against political opponents.
Supporters, including Gojek drivers, gathered outside the Jakarta courthouse on Tuesday. Upon hearing the verdict and sentence, Makarim appeared visibly emotional and indicated his intention to file an appeal. "My only hope is in the Indonesian people, in those who still believe that truth still exists in this country," he told reporters after the hearing.