An Indonesian court has sentenced former education minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim to 10 years in prison. Makarim, 41, was accused of manipulating a school laptop procurement contract for personal gain, which prosecutors say resulted in losses of around $125 million (£94 million) to the state. He has denied the allegations.
He left Gojek in 2019 to join President Joko Widodo’s government and served as education minister until 2024. Some critics argue the case against him is weak and suggest it may be part of a wider political effort targeting opponents.
Outside the courtroom, supporters expressed anger at the verdict, with some booing as it was announced. During the trial, Makarim said he had made significant sacrifices to serve in public office, adding that the outcome of his service was “iron bars.”
The case focuses on the education ministry’s purchase of Chromebook laptops for schools between 2021 and 2022. Prosecutors claim he favoured Google, a former investor in Gojek, by shaping tender requirements that effectively restricted competition and positioned Google as the dominant provider in Indonesia’s education system.
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