Nadiem Makarim, the former education minister and founder of Gojek, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for corruption related to a pandemic-era school laptop procurement project.
Key facts
- •Nadiem Makarim served as Indonesia’s education minister from 2019 until October 2024.
- •The government claims its anti-corruption efforts have averted $20 billion in potential state losses.
- •Indonesia’s ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index dropped to 109th place out of 182 countries.
- •The attorney general’s office is currently investigating the government’s $10.5 billion Free Nutritious Meals program for potential corruption.
- •Makarim’s appeal hearing is scheduled for August 5.
On June 30, former Indonesian education minister Nadiem Makarim was sentenced to 10 years in prison on corruption charges. Prosecutors alleged that Makarim caused $120 million in state losses by giving preferential treatment to Google during a COVID-19 pandemic contract for 1 million Chromebook laptops. Makarim, who founded the tech platform Gojek, has denied wrongdoing and filed an appeal.
By the numbers
The Corruption Allegations
The attorney general’s office accused Makarim of procuring 1 million Google Chromebooks despite warnings that the devices would not function in remote areas with poor internet access. Prosecutors argued he favored Google, which had previously invested in his company, Gojek. In addition to the prison sentence, Makarim was ordered to pay $45 million in restitution or face an additional five years in prison.
Broader Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Makarim’s case is part of a wider series of investigations under President Prabowo Subianto, who pledged to target corrupt elites. Other investigations have involved state-owned enterprises and politically connected figures. In July, top anti-corruption prosecutor Febrie Adriansyah resigned after police raids on his residence uncovered gold bars and nearly $20 million in cash; he is currently facing allegations of money laundering and corruption.
Institutional and Legal Concerns
Critics and legal scholars argue that Indonesia’s anti-corruption efforts are hampered by vague laws that allow prosecutors to define corruption based on "state losses" without proving personal gain. Observers note that recent structural changes, including a 2019 revision to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) law, have weakened institutional independence and led to turf wars between the police, the KPK, and the attorney general’s office.
Timeline
- 2010Nadiem Makarim founded the ride-hailing platform Gojek.
- 2019Makarim was appointed education minister and the KPK law was revised.
- May 2025The attorney general’s office opened an investigation into Makarim.
- June 30Makarim was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- Aug. 5The appeal hearing for Makarim is scheduled to take place.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Foreign Policy.
