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Court Issues Verdict in Nadiem Makarim Corruption Case

The decision tests claims that pandemic-era Chromebook procurement was rigged to benefit associates, with implications for investor confidence in Indonesia.

Nadiem Makarim, Indonesia's former education minister and co-founder of ride-hailing firm Gojek, and his wife Franka Franklin arrive at the courtroom for the verdict in a corruption case, related to the procurement of Google Chromebook laptops, against Nadiem, who is accused by prosecutors of using his executive powers to enrich himself, at the Central Jakarta Court in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 30, 2026. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana
Fomer Education Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim, center, who is also the co-founder of ride-hailing and payment giant Gojek, talks to the media after his sentencing hearing in a Google Chromebook laptop procurement corruption case, at the Corruption Court in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
The co-founder of ride-hailing and payment giant Gojek and fomer Indonesian Education Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim, left, speaks with his lawyers after being sentenced in a Google Chromebook laptop procurement corruption case, at the Corruption Court in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
The co-founder of ride-hailing and payment giant Gojek and fomer Indonesian Education Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim, center, is hugged by a supporter as his wife Franka, top right, looks on after being sentenced in a Google Chromebook laptop procurement corruption case, at the Corruption Court in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Overview

  • A Jakarta court found former education minister and Gojek co‑founder Nadiem Makarim guilty and sentenced him to 10 years in prison, ordered a 1 billion rupiah fine, and mandated 809.6 billion rupiah in restitution with an extra five years if repayment fails.
  • Prosecutors had accused Makarim of creating tender rules that favoured Chromebooks and Chrome OS and alleged he personally benefited by about 809 billion rupiah while the procurement caused broader state losses.
  • Prosecutors had sought an 18‑year sentence and roughly 5.6 trillion rupiah in fines and restitution, a far larger demand than the penalties handed down by the court.
  • Makarim has denied wrongdoing, said he will appeal any guilty verdict, and argued the laptop programme was meant to keep schools running during pandemic disruptions; his team says most devices were delivered to schools.
  • The case drew international attention because Google was mentioned by prosecutors though it was not charged, and legal experts warned the trial could be seen as politicised and harm foreign investor confidence in Indonesia.