GoTo clarifies position on Nadiem Makarim case

GoTo describes itself as Indonesia’s largest digital ecosystem in a statement amid ongoing legal proceedings involving founder Nadiem Makarim.

Nadiem left the company in 2019 to become Indonesia’s minister of education, culture, research, and technology.

The company, originally founded as Gojek in 2010, expanded through funding rounds including Google’s first investment in 2017. GoTo said these investments were managed transparently and complied with Indonesian laws.

In 2021, GoTo purchased Tokopedia shares from Google and later bought shares in PT Dompet Karya Anak Bangsa from investors including Google.

GoTo said it did not buy back its own shares from Google. The company said it has been a Google Cloud and digital services customer since 2015.

Its financial statements, audited by an independent public accounting firm, detail share values and subscription prices, with GoTo saying all transactions complied with local regulations.

After Nadiem resigned, he granted a power of attorney over his voting rights to co-founders and had no decision-making role, the company said.

🔗 Source: GoTo

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

The founder’s legal battle centers on a $119 million education tech procurement case

Prosecutors accuse Nadiem Makarim of corruption linked to his tenure as Indonesia’s minister of education, culture, research, and technology 1.
They say the ministry’s 2019-2022 digitalization program led to about $119 million in state losses through inflated Chromebook prices plus allegedly unnecessary software purchases, including Chrome Device Management services 1.
Makarim’s defense says he set policy but had no control over procurement, while some observers argue the case may have political motives 1, 2.
Anti-graft watchdogs warn that narrow tender rules, such as limiting bids to Chromebooks, can invite monopolistic behavior and higher prices 2.

The case casts a shadow over tech’s role in public service

The dispute raises reputational risk for GoTo, which calls itself Indonesia’s largest digital ecosystem, since Makarim remains its best-known founder even after leaving in 2019 to join government 3.
Bringing a prominent founder-turned-minister to trial could deter other Southeast Asian tech leaders from public service due to similar legal and political exposure 2.
The proceedings underline governance gaps when governments adopt technology at speed and rely on global tech firms, especially in education where corruption risks run high 2.
GoTo also faces added distraction after handing a 75% controlling stake in Tokopedia to TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance 3.