Nadiem Makarim, 41, the co-founder of super-app Gojek who later served as Indonesia’s education minister, was convicted of corruption by the country’s anti-corruption court in Jakarta.
The case centres on the education ministry’s procurement of Google Chromebook laptops for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote learning was rolled out across the country. Prosecutors argued that the procurement was carried out in a way that created conflict-of-interest concerns, linking the decision to Google because of its investment ties to Gojek’s parent ecosystem.
Judges said Makarim abused his authority and acted in a deliberate, structured manner, determining that he directed the Chromebook policy despite the conditions of a conflict of interest. The court concluded this was done to unlawfully benefit certain parties and strengthen strategic business links involving Google and the corporation associated with him.
In addition to the 10-year prison term, the court ordered Nadiem to pay restitution of 809 billion rupiah and imposed a 1 billion rupiah fine. If he is unable to pay restitution, he faces further jail time.
Makarim pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing, saying the case was politically motivated and that the Chromebook procurement program was justified and would benefit education during the pandemic. His legal team said he would appeal the verdict.
The trial drew significant public attention in Indonesia, with supporters—including people linked to the platform’s driver community—showing up for hearings as the case proceeded through 2026.
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