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

Ex-education minister Nadiem Makarim jailed for 10 years over $120M Chromebook corruption case. Court orders restitution and fine.

Editorial Desk

September 17, 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 linked to the procurement of Chromebooks for schools during the pandemic, causing an estimated $120 million in state losses.

Makarim, who co-founded the ride-hailing giant Gojek, was found guilty of using his position to benefit himself and others, according to prosecutors. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of 1 billion rupiah and repay 809 billion rupiah in restitution, either through additional jail time or financial means.

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The conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for the 41-year-old tech entrepreneur, who served as education minister from 2019 to 2024. Prosecutors alleged that his decision to purchase Chromebooks for schools was tied to Google’s investment in Gojek, while Makarim has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling the case politically motivated. His legal team plans to appeal the ruling.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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