Image@ BBC
Indonesia’s former education minister and Gojek co-founder, Nadiem Makarim, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted in a corruption case linked to the government’s school laptop procurement programme.
The 41-year-old was found guilty of abusing his position to influence the purchase of Chromebook laptops for schools between 2021 and 2022 in a scheme that the court ruled benefited his business interests.
He had denied all wrongdoing throughout the proceedings.
Alongside the prison term, the court ordered Makarim to return 809 billion rupiah (about $45 million), which judges determined represented the financial gains connected to the case.
Failure to repay the amount will result in an additional five years behind bars. He was also fined one billion rupiah, with a further 190 days of imprisonment if the penalty remains unpaid.
Speaking after the judgment, Makarim said he lacked the financial means to settle the restitution, meaning he effectively faces a 15-year sentence.
He confirmed he would challenge the verdict through the appeals process.
The case centred on the education ministry’s nationwide procurement of Chromebook computers.
Prosecutors argued that officials had already concluded in 2018 that the devices were unsuitable for many schools because they relied heavily on internet connectivity, which remains limited in numerous remote parts of Indonesia.
According to prosecutors, the ministry nevertheless proceeded with the purchases after Makarim met representatives of Google in 2020.
They alleged that procurement requirements were designed in a way that favoured Google’s Chrome operating system, effectively eliminating competing products.
Investigators further argued that Makarim retained a minority shareholding in Gojek while serving in government, creating a conflict of interest because Google was among the company’s investors.
They accused him of breaching anti-corruption laws, causing state losses estimated at about $125 million and benefiting from transactions involving Gojek’s parent company.
In his defence, Makarim rejected claims that Google’s investment in Gojek influenced the procurement process.
He maintained that selecting Chromebooks reduced government spending and insisted that the 809 billion rupiah cited by prosecutors remained within company accounts rather than being used for his personal benefit.
The panel of judges, however, concluded that the procurement process had been structured to advance Makarim’s corporate relationships and private interests.
Outside the Jakarta courthouse, dozens of supporters, including Gojek drivers, gathered carrying banners expressing solidarity with the former minister. Many watched the hearing on a live broadcast from a nearby room.
Following the announcement of the sentence, Makarim became visibly emotional and embraced supporters after leaving the courtroom.
Addressing reporters, he said he struggled to find words to describe his feelings and appealed to Indonesians who, he said, still believed in justice.
Family members also stood by him during the trial. His mother-in-law, Sania Makki, said the family had continued praying and supporting him throughout the nearly 10-month legal battle.
The conviction has generated debate among legal experts and civil society groups.
Lawyer and activist Todung Mulya Lubis argued that anti-corruption measures were increasingly being used against individuals viewed unfavourably by those in power.
Some observers warned that the outcome could discourage young professionals from entering public service.
Political activist Andovi da Lopez said many people in his generation now fear working with the government because of the possibility of facing criminal prosecution.
Meanwhile, Usman Hamid suggested that many young Indonesians regarded Makarim as a reform-minded figure whose efforts to modernise government policy were constrained by entrenched systemic challenges.
Analysts have also compared the case with those involving former trade minister Tom Lembong and party official Hasto Kristiyanto, both of whom were convicted in separate corruption cases before later receiving pardons from President Prabowo Subianto.
The ruling comes amid growing public dissatisfaction over rising living costs, the weakening rupiah and nationwide demonstrations criticising the government’s economic policies.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong