Former Education Minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim was arrested on September 4, 2025, following a corruption probe into a national school laptop program.
During his 2019 to 2024 term as Education Minister, Makarim allegedly bypassed internal warnings that Google’s Chromebooks were unsuitable for remote areas without internet. Prosecutors contend he orchestrated the $119million procurement for “personal business interests,” claiming he leveraged the contract to pressure Google into investing in PT AKAB (Gojek’s parent company).
This scheme allegedly netted Makarim approximately $48.2million. Prosecutors allege the project caused state losses of approximately Rp 2.18trillion.
Makarim was formally indicted on January 5, 2026, at the Central Jakarta District Court and faces charges under the 2001 Corruption Law. If convicted of misusing public funds, he could face up to 20 years or life imprisonment.
Defense argues Chrome OS saved state Rp 1.2trillion
Makarim’s defense team, led by attorney Ari Yusuf Amir, argues that his role was limited to formulating broad policy rather than managing technical procurement details. The defense claimed Chrome OS actually saved the state Rp 1.2 trillion because it “does not require licensing fees, unlike Microsoft Windows”.
The defense maintains that Google’s investments in Gojek were routine corporate activities that largely predated his time as minister.
Makarim claims he divested from Gojek upon taking office and that his personal wealth actually decreased by more than 50% during his ministerial term. His lawyers have asked the court to dismiss the charges, labeling the indictment as “unclear, inaccurate, and incomplet”.
While Google has not been indicted, the company has officially denied leveraging its relationship with Nadiem Makarim to secure government contracts in Indonesia.
“A narrative of friction between new and old groups”
Makarim personally read his objection plea, characterizing the indictment as if it were someone else’s story rather than a legitimate criminal case. He argued that the charges reflect friction between reformers seeking change and established interests trying to maintain the status quo, noting the indictment relies on witness narratives rather than facts or criminal evidence to create a false perception that his team coerced decisions.
I read this indictment as if it were someone else’s story…The case against me is not a criminal case, but rather a narrative of friction between a new group seeking change and an old group wanting to maintain the status quo.
Nadiem Makarim personally read his objection plea
This is why the content of the indictment does not rely on facts and criminal evidence, but rather on witness narratives designed to create the perception that my team was coercing a decision at my command.
His legal counsel warned that criminalizing every step of innovation sends a dangerous message that serving the country could become a criminal trap.
If every step of innovation must end up in the defendant’s chair… it sends a dark message that service to the country can become a criminal trap.
Nadiem Makarim’s legal counsel
Read also: Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak sentenced 15 years for 1MDB scandal
