Indonesia Charges Nadiem Makarim in $46 Million Chromebook Graft Case
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 17
Indonesia Charges Nadiem Makarim in $46 Million Chromebook Graft Case
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 17
Summary
Prosecutors say former education minister Nadiem Makarim could face up to 18 years in prison over a 2020-2022 school procurement deal for more than 1 million Google Chromebooks.
The charges accuse Makarim of taking 809 billion rupiah, or about $46 million, as a reward for awarding the contract to Google.
Authorities also allege the Chromebook purchases caused 2.2 trillion rupiah in state losses, making the case one of Indonesia’s biggest recent public-sector graft probes.
Makarim, 41, was once a leading figure in Indonesia’s tech boom after co-founding Gojek before leaving the startup to serve as education minister.
Will the 'Chromebookgate' verdict scare innovators away from Indonesian public service?
Cleared by two audits, why does Indonesia's ex-minister now face an 18-year sentence for corruption?
Indonesia’s Rp2.18 Trillion Chromebook Corruption Trial: The Nadiem Makarim Case and Its Impact on Education, Policy, and Investment
Overview
As of June 2026, Indonesia’s high-profile corruption trial over the Ministry of Education’s Chromebook and Chrome Device Management procurement continues, with former Minister Nadiem Makarim at the center. The prosecution alleges that Nadiem and several officials caused major state losses and personally benefited from unlawful procurement between 2019 and 2022. While co-defendants have been sentenced, Nadiem’s hearing was delayed due to illness, and his defense argues he was only involved in policy, not procurement. The case has sparked national debate about policy, accountability, and its impact on Indonesia’s digital education, governance, and investment climate.