Nadiem Makarim sentenced to 10 years in Chromebook corruption case

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Former Indonesian education minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after the Jakarta Corruption Court found him guilty of corruption related to the government's Chromebook laptop procurement programme.

The verdict, delivered on 30 June, marks a major development in Indonesia's long-running investigation, which has drawn attention due to Makarim's previous roles in both government and the technology industry.

Presiding judge Purwanto S Abdullah said the court found Makarim guilty of committing corruption jointly with other defendants.

Don't miss: Nadiem Makarim's 18-year graft demand unfolds alongside a public show of support

In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of IDR 1 billion (US$55,800), with a substitute prison term of 190 days if unpaid. Makarim was also ordered to pay IDR 809 billion (US$45 million) in restitution or face an additional five years in prison if the payment is not made. The time he has already spent in detention will be deducted from his sentence.

The ruling was lighter than prosecutors' earlier demand for an 18-year prison sentence. Prosecutors had also sought IDR 5.6 trillion (US$313 million) in restitution, with a nine-year substitute prison term.

The case centred on the education ministry's digitalisation programme. According to prosecutors, state losses stemmed from two elements: the procurement of Chromebook laptops and the acquisition of Chrome Device Management (CDM) licences, which they argued were unnecessary for the programme.

Prosecutors also alleged that the Chromebook procurement process did not undergo adequate feasibility studies and that the devices were unsuitable for use in Indonesia's remote, frontier and underdeveloped (3T) regions because of their reliance on stable internet connectivity.

Makarim was tried alongside three other defendants: former ministry technology consultant Ibrahim Arief, former junior secondary education director Mulyatsyah, and former primary education director Sri Wahyuningsih.

Prosecutors further alleged that Makarim unlawfully enriched himself and abused his authority by directing procurement specifications that made Google's education ecosystem the only option for the programme.

The prosecution also argued that the alleged personal gains were linked to Google's investment in Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa, the corporate entity behind Gojek, citing the value of Google's investment and Makarim's declared securities holdings in his 2022 asset disclosure.

The verdict concludes the trial at the court of first instance, although the parties retain the right to pursue further legal remedies under Indonesian law.

"I will appeal immediately, for the sake of truth, for the young people, the professionals, everyone innocent who's being criminalised," Makarim wrote.

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