Nadiem Makarim, the co-founder of Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing and digital services giant Gojek and Indonesia’s former education minister, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after an Indonesian court found him guilty of corruption over a controversial government laptop procurement program, bringing a dramatic fall for one of the country’s most prominent technology entrepreneurs.
The Central Jakarta Corruption Court convicted the 41-year-old over the procurement of Google Chromebook laptops for schools while he served as education minister under former President Joko Widodo. Makarim pleaded not guilty throughout the trial and has announced that he will appeal the conviction.
In addition to the 10-year prison sentence, the court ordered Makarim to pay 809 billion rupiah (about $45 million) in restitution, the amount prosecutors alleged he had unlawfully gained. If he is unable to pay the restitution, he will serve an additional five years in prison. The court also imposed a fine of one billion rupiah, with a further 190 days in jail if the fine is not paid.
Speaking after the ruling, Makarim said he could not afford to pay the restitution, meaning he effectively faces a 15-year prison term. He maintained that he had committed no wrongdoing and said he would challenge the verdict through the appeals process.
The case centers on the Indonesian government’s purchase of Google Chromebook laptops for schools as part of a nationwide effort to expand digital learning. Prosecutors argued that the Education Ministry had already concluded in 2018 that Chromebooks were unsuitable for many Indonesian schools because they required reliable internet access, which remained unavailable in many remote regions of the country. Despite those concerns, prosecutors said the ministry proceeded with the procurement after Makarim met representatives of Google in 2020.
According to prosecutors, Makarim favored Google, one of Gojek’s investors, by approving procurement specifications that effectively matched only Google’s Chrome operating system, limiting competition and making Google the dominant technology provider for Indonesia’s education system. They also alleged that Makarim retained a minority shareholding in Gojek while serving as education minister, creating a conflict of interest because of Google’s investment in the company. Prosecutors said the procurement caused approximately $125 million in losses to the state and violated Indonesia’s anti-corruption laws.
Makarim rejected those allegations, insisting that the procurement was intended to modernize Indonesia’s education system during the COVID-19 pandemic and denying that he acted improperly. His defense argued that the case lacked sufficient evidence and that the prosecution failed to establish criminal wrongdoing.
The conviction marks a stunning reversal for a businessman once celebrated as one of Indonesia’s leading innovators. Makarim co-founded Gojek in 2010, transforming a motorcycle taxi booking service into one of Southeast Asia’s most successful super-apps. The platform now offers ride-hailing, food delivery, logistics, digital payments and other services to more than 170 million users across the region. In 2021, Gojek merged with Indonesian e-commerce company Tokopedia to form GoTo Group, one of Southeast Asia’s largest technology companies.
Makarim left Gojek in 2019 after President Joko Widodo appointed him education minister. During his five years in office, he introduced wide-ranging education reforms aimed at expanding digital learning and reducing bureaucracy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. His supporters praised him for bringing private-sector innovation into government, while critics questioned some of his policies and procurement decisions.
The case has generated intense debate across Indonesia. Critics of the authorities argue that the prosecution was based on limited evidence and reflects a broader effort to target political opponents of the current government. Others welcomed the verdict, saying it demonstrates that public officials should be held accountable for decisions involving public funds regardless of their status or achievements.
The ruling has also attracted attention across Southeast Asia because of Makarim’s role in building one of the region’s most influential technology companies. Analysts say the case raises broader questions about public procurement, conflicts of interest and corporate governance, while highlighting the challenges entrepreneurs may face when moving from the private sector into public office.
The prosecution of Makarim joins a series of high-profile corruption cases involving senior political and business figures around the world. Similar proceedings in countries including Malaysia, South Korea and the United States have underscored growing scrutiny of public procurement and government accountability, while also fueling debate over transparency, due process and investor confidence.
As Makarim prepares to appeal, the case is expected to remain one of Indonesia’s most closely watched legal battles. Beyond determining the future of one of the country’s best-known entrepreneurs, the outcome is likely to influence discussions about governance, anti-corruption enforcement and the relationship between government and the technology sector for years to come.
