Nadiem Makarim’s prison sentence cut to 9 years on appeal

Nadiem Makarim / Photo credit: World Economic Forum / Sikarin Thanachaiary

The Jakarta High Court reduced the sentence against Gojek co-founder and former Indonesian education minister Nadiem Makarim to nine years and a 1 billion rupiah (US$55,900) fine following an appeal verdict hearing today. If he fails to pay the fine, he will serve an additional 140 days in prison.

He was also ordered to pay 548 billion rupiah (US$30.6 million) in restitution. If unpaid, his prison sentence would be extended by six years.

Makarim was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined 1 billion rupiah. He was also required to pay 809 billion rupiah (US$45.2 million) in restitution, and his prison sentence would have been extended by five years if it was left unpaid.

He was charged over his involvement in the education ministry’s procurement of 1.2 million Chromebook laptops for schools between 2019 and 2022. Makarim served as Indonesia’s education minister from 2019 to 2024.

Prosecutors alleged that Makarim abused his authority as minister to benefit Google, in violation of Indonesia’s anti-corruption laws. The procurement caused state losses totaling 1.5 trillion rupiah (US$83.7 million), according to authorities.

Makarim denied the allegations, insisting that there was no evidence that he had personally benefited from the program. He also rejected claims that the procurement caused state losses or benefited certain companies.

Ibrahim Arief, a technology consultant at the education ministry and former Bukalapak executive who is also involved with the Chromebook case, lost his appeal in August.

Arief’s sentence was increased from four years to five years in prison, and his fine was set at 500 million rupiah (US$28,000). He was also ordered to pay 5 billion rupiah (US$279,000) in restitution.

See also: The Nadiem effect on investors, talent, and Indonesia

Currency converted from Indonesian rupiah to US dollar: US$1 = 17,881 rupiah.