Gojek co-founder, turned Indonesian Education Minister jailed for 10 years

Nadiem Makarim, co-founder of Gojek and former Indonesian education minister, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. A Jakarta court found him guilty of abusing his authority in a corruption case that resulted in $87 million in state losses. This verdict, concerning actions taken while in a government role, could negatively impact business sentiment and foreign investment in Indonesia. Observers suggest it raises concerns about legal certainty, particularly in matters involving government procurement and the technology sector. Makarim previously served as Gojek's CEO before entering politics.

Former Education Minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Indonesian court for corruption. The Jakarta anti-corruption court found Makarim guilty of abuse of authority and causing state losses amounting to approximately $120 million in relation to the procurement of Chromebook laptops for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. While not found guilty of personal enrichment, the court ordered him to pay a fine of Rp1 billion and Rp809 billion in restitution. Prosecutors alleged his decision to purchase Chromebooks was linked to Google's investment in Gojek. The verdict represents a significant downfall for the entrepreneur, who previously led Gojek and served as one of Indonesia's youngest cabinet ministers.