Indonesia jails former education minister for 10 years in Google Chromebook graft case
Judges said the procurement caused state losses and ordered Makarim to pay 809 billion rupiah, far below the 18 years sought by prosecutors.
- On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, an Indonesian court sentenced former Education Minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim to 10 years in prison, finding him guilty of abuse of authority in a corruption case.
- Prosecutors alleged Makarim manipulated tender specifications to favor Google, creating a system where the tech giant became the sole controller of the education ecosystem and causing $125 million in state losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The court ordered Makarim to pay 1 billion rupiah in fines and return over 800 billion rupiah, or about $45 million, representing gains from the deal; one judge dissented, arguing for acquittal.
- Supporters gathered outside the Jakarta court carrying "Free Nadiem" banners, while Makarim tearfully vowed to appeal, saying that after sacrificing to serve in government, "the reward I received was iron bars."
- Observers draw parallels to pardoned political allies of former President Joko Widodo, raising concerns about selective prosecution as the verdict arrives amid falling stock values and rising unrest, potentially undermining investor confidence in Indonesia.
52 Articles
52 Articles
The Case of Indonesia’s Nadiem Makarim
By: Bintang AgungWhen Indonesia’s most recognizable tech entrepreneur accepted the job of education minister in the Indonesian government of Joko Widodo in 2019, many people at the time warned him that the stultifying bureaucracy of a ministry that presides over mostly second-rate primary and secondary schools would smother fresh ideas. But Nadiem Makarim, a sometimes brash and cocky tech-savvy businessman, told friends he could make a differenc…
Gojek co-founder, turned Indonesian Education Minister jailed for 10 years
NewsFeedGojek co-founder and former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of corruption. Makarim, a former billionaire and symbol of Indonesia’s tech boom, says the verdict is politically motivated and plans to appeal.Published On 1 Jul 20261 Jul 2026Click here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharegoogleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source The…
Former Indonesian minister and startup hero jailed for Chromebook buys
An Indonesian corruption court has sentenced the nation’s former education minister Nadiem Makarim, who is also a hero of the nation’s tech startup scene, to ten years in jail for his role in buying a stack of Chromebooks. Nadiem is a co-founder of Gojek, a so-called superapp that offers ride share, food delivery, digital payments, and even logistics services. In 2021, Gojek merged with its rival Tokopedia. The combined entity became a ubiquitou…
Indonesian tech tycoon sentenced
An Indonesian court on Tuesday sentenced a tech tycoon to 10 years in prison in a closely watched graft case. Nadiem Makarim, co-founder of ride-hailing and payments platform Gojek, was convicted on charges that he engaged in a quid pro quo when he purchased more than a million Google Chromebooks for the country’s schools during his tenure as Indonesia’s education minister six years ago. Google denied the allegations. The verdict could further s…
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