Corruption and Chromebooks: Indonesia’s ex-minister of education sentenced to 10 years in prison

The Indonesian anti-corruption court sentenced former Education Minister Nadia Makarim. An ex-official was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a dubious deal to purchase Chromebook laptops for the country’s educational institutions for a total of $600 million.

The role of Gojek startup

Before entering public office, Makarim was known as the co-founder of Gojek, a popular technology startup that offers taxi, food delivery and digital payment services. In 2021, the company merged with Tokopedia. During his time in government, where he was invited by President Joko Widodo in 2019 to reform the school system, Makarim continued to hold a minority stake in Gojek.

The investigation found that Google, whose devices were selected for procurement, had previously invested in Gojek and worked closely with the startup, raising suspicions of the minister’s personal interest.

Conflict of interest

The decision to switch to the Google Chromebook platform drew criticism from specialists at the planning stage. Experts insisted that Windows laptops are best suited for local conditions, as many areas in Indonesia do not have the stable internet connection necessary for ChromeOS to work properly. However, the ministry preferred Google’s technology, citing the lower cost of the devices.

Cost of crime: financial consequences

According to the prosecutor’s office, the irrational choice of equipment led to unreasonable budget costs in the amount of more than $100 million. The court ordered the ex-minister to pay compensation to the state in the amount of 809.6 billion Indonesian rupiah (approximately $45.2 million). A fine of 1 billion Indonesian rupiah (about $55.9 thousand) was also imposed. If the convict does not compensate for the damages, his prison term will be increased by another 5 years.

The position of the defense and the impact of the case on politics

Nadiya Makarym does not admit her guilt and plans to appeal the verdict. He claims that he had no financial benefit from the deal, and the decision on the purchase was made by independent entities. Against the backdrop of the case, many analysts are debating whether it is an act to purge the political elite of President Joko Widodo’s technocrats, or a show trial that will make international investors wary of doing business in Indonesia.