An Indonesian court on Monday opened the trial of Nadiem Anwar Makarim, a co-founder of the ride-hailing and payments company Gojek, who is accused of corruption in a government project to procure Google Chromebook laptops for schools, according to a report by The Associated Press.
Makarim, 41, was a former education, culture, research and technology minister when he was arrested Sept. 7, the AP reported. His arrest came during an investigation by the attorney general’s office in Jakarta into an alleged $125 billion corruption scandal linked to the project.
Prosecutors described the laptop procurement as part of the government’s “digitalization of schools” policy, aimed at equipping schools in remote areas with digital devices and infrastructure. The AP reported that prosecutors say the program began under that policy to strengthen school access to digital tools, including in areas where connectivity is limited.
The indictment alleges that Makarim favored Google’s Chromebook despite a ministry research team refusing to recommend that laptop model because it was ineffective in regions lacking internet access, the AP said. Prosecutors also say Makarim steered nationwide procurement in 2020 and 2021 for personal business interests, according to the report.
Prosecutors told the court that Makarim pressed Google to invest in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa, known as PT AKAB, which the AP said is the parent of Gojek. The AP reported that prosecutors said Makarim received about 809 billion rupiah (about $48.2 million) in connection with the program.
At the trial at Jakarta’s Corruption Court, lead prosecutor Muhammad Fadli Paramajeng said, “The procurement ignored proper pricing benchmarks and technical needs, especially for remote or under-resourced regions.” He also told the court that prosecutors believe the purchase of more than 1.2 million Chromebooks was intended to strengthen Google’s dominance in Indonesia’s education technology ecosystem.
Paramajeng further argued that the Chromebooks deal was linked to subsequent Google investments of about $787 million in PT AKAB through Google Asia Pacific, the AP reported. Under Indonesia’s 2001 Corruption Law, the AP said Makarim faces a possible sentence of life imprisonment for causing state losses and misusing public funds.
Makarim has denied the allegations, saying he did not personally receive funds from the Chromebook procurement or related services, the AP said. The AP reported that prosecutors characterized Makarim’s resignation from PT AKAB and Gojek as a “strategic concealment” meant to mask conflicts of interest.
Prosecutors said that while Makarim stepped down, he maintained indirect control over company decisions by appointing close associates as directors and “beneficial owners,” according to the AP report. The defense, meanwhile, argued that Google’s investment largely predated Makarim’s ministerial tenure and was routine corporate activity not tied to the laptop deal.
Defense lawyer Ari Yusuf Amir told the court that “The defendant was not involved in the procurement process, as his role was limited solely to formulating policy.” He also said the indictment was “unclear, inaccurate and incomplete,” according to the AP. Amir argued the indictment conflated Makarim’s ministerial authority with the work of other government officials, the AP reported.
The defense also said Makarim divested from PT AKAB when he took office and that his wealth fell by more than 50% during his term, the AP said. It further argued that procurement decisions were made by technical teams and officials, not the minister.
Alongside Makarim, the AP reported that two former education ministry officials and a former tech consultant were charged in the case. Another staff member is wanted by authorities but remains at large, the report said.
Makarim is a Harvard University graduate who co-founded Gojek in 2009 and remained until 2019, when the company was valued at over $10 billion, the AP said. He stepped down from the company to join the cabinet of former Indonesian President Joko Widodo.