**Gojek Co-Founder Nadiem Makarim Sentenced to 10 Years for Corruption**
**Jakarta, Indonesia** – Nadiem Makarim, the former Indonesian Education Minister and co-founder of the ride-hailing platform Gojek, has been sentenced to ten years in prison following a corruption conviction related to the procurement of Chromebook laptops for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling was delivered by the Jakarta anti-corruption court on June 30, 2026.
Chief Judge Purwanto Abdullah announced that Makarim was found guilty of abuse of authority and causing significant state losses, estimated at approximately $120 million. However, the court determined that he was not guilty of directly seeking personal enrichment from the scheme. In addition to the prison sentence, Makarim has been ordered to pay a fine of Rp1 billion (around $55,850) and restitution amounting to Rp809 billion (over $45 million). Failure to comply with the restitution order could result in additional prison time.
Makarim, who is 41 years old, has been a prominent figure in Indonesia's startup ecosystem since co-founding Gojek in 2010. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a small call center with 20 motorcycle drivers into a major player in the ride-hailing and delivery market. He entered the political arena in 2019 as one of the youngest cabinet ministers in Indonesian history, serving as the Minister of Education until 2024.
The charges against Makarim stemmed from the government's decision to purchase Chromebook laptops, which are powered by Google’s ChromeOS. Prosecutors argued that this decision was influenced by Google’s investment in Gojek. Makarim has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the procurement process was legitimate and cost-effective. He has described the case against him as an “investigative error” and expressed his intention to appeal the verdict.
During the trial, Makarim maintained that expert testimonies and factual witnesses supported his claims that there was no element of state loss, legal violations, or self-enrichment involved in the procurement process. He criticized the judges, stating, “The judges couldn’t even look me in the eye,” and expressed his inability to pay the fines imposed by the court.
Prosecutors had initially sought a more severe punishment, requesting an 18-year prison sentence and restitution of Rp5.68 trillion (approximately $313 million). Despite the outcome, Google, which was implicated in the procurement process, has not faced any charges and has denied any wrongdoing.
Following Makarim’s resignation from Gojek in 2019, the company underwent a significant transformation, merging with Tokopedia to form the GoTo Group. The company has stated that Makarim has not held any decision-making role since his departure from the startup.
Makarim’s conviction marks a dramatic shift for an individual once celebrated as a symbol of Indonesia's burgeoning tech industry. His case highlights ongoing concerns about corruption within the Indonesian government and the challenges faced by public officials in navigating the intersection of private enterprise and public service.
As Makarim prepares to appeal the court's decision, the implications of this ruling may reverberate throughout Indonesia's political and business landscapes, prompting discussions about accountability and transparency in both spheres.