Indonesia’s Ex-Education Minister Sentenced to 10 Years for Corruption in Chromebook Scandal

Ex-education minister Nadiem Makarim gets 10-year jail for corruption linked to $120M Chromebook deal. Court orders restitution and fine.

Editorial Desk

September 18, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Jakarta, Indonesia — A Jakarta court has sentenced former education minister Nadiem Makarim to 10 years in prison for corruption tied to the procurement of Chromebooks for schools during the pandemic, causing an estimated $120 million in state losses.

The ruling marks a significant legal blow for Makarim, who co-founded the ride-hailing company Gojek and served as a key figure in Indonesia’s tech sector. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 1 billion rupiah and repay 809 billion rupiah in restitution, either through additional jail time or financial compensation.

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Makarim, 41, faced charges that his decision to procure Chromebooks for schools was influenced by a potential conflict of interest with Google, which had invested in Gojek. Prosecutors claimed the move led to substantial financial harm to the government. However, Makarim denied any wrongdoing, calling the case politically motivated and asserting that the procurement process saved public funds. His legal team has indicated plans to appeal the verdict.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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