Nadiem Makarim, co-founder of Indonesia’s ride-hailing giant Gojek and former education minister, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Central Jakarta District Court for corruption related to a government contract to purchase Chromebook laptops for schools. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, also requires Nadiem to pay a penalty exceeding Rp800 billion (approximately $45 million) or face an additional five years in jail.
The case centers on a decision made during Nadiem’s tenure as education minister between 2020 and 2022 to procure Chromebooks, which run on Google’s ChromeOS, for use in the country’s schools. Prosecutors alleged that this decision resulted in state losses estimated at Rp1.5–2 trillion ($85 million to $120 million) and accused Nadiem of abusing his power by favoring the Chromebook contract due to Google’s previous investments in Gojek, from which he resigned in 2019 to join the government. Although prosecutors sought an 18-year jail term and about Rp5.7 trillion in restitution, the court acquitted him of personal enrichment but found him guilty of causing state losses and abusing authority.
Nadiem, a Harvard-educated entrepreneur celebrated for building one of Indonesia’s most successful startups, rejected the charges and has announced plans to appeal. He maintained that the Chromebooks were selected because they were the most affordable option and denied receiving any personal benefit from the contract. After the verdict, he remarked that the imposed fine was beyond his financial capacity and described the situation as “overwhelming” and disheartening.
The trial drew significant attention both domestically and internationally, highlighting concerns about Indonesia’s legal system and investment climate. Critics, including some prominent Indonesian lawyers and former Google executives who testified during the trial, argued that the prosecution’s case was based on insufficient evidence and that the Google investments in Gojek were routine commercial transactions unrelated to the school procurement. The case has sparked debate over the independence and fairness of Indonesia’s judiciary amid a broader government crackdown on corruption under President Prabowo Subianto, who took office in October 2024.
Supporters of Nadiem contend that the case may be politically motivated. Nadiem, appointed to the cabinet by former President Joko Widodo to modernize education and promote transparency, suggested that his reform efforts upset powerful interests. He stated that his approach to digitizing education threatened entrenched corruption, potentially leading to his prosecution. Some observers warn that the verdict might discourage technocrats and private-sector leaders from entering public service in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the ruling has raised apprehension among foreign investors about the predictability of legal processes and the increasing role of the state in the private sector. Indonesia’s largest tech company, GoTo—which is the product of Gojek’s merger with e-commerce platform Tokopedia—has been a symbol of the country’s rapidly growing digital economy. The outcome of this high-profile case is likely to influence future foreign investment and entrepreneurial activity in Southeast Asia’s largest market.