Nadiem Sentenced to 10 Years in Chromebook Corruption Case
Former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim, the co-founder of GoJek and one of Indonesia’s best-known young businessmen, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Jakarta Corruption Court on June 30 in a case involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops for schools during the pandemic.
The sentence was lighter than the 18 years sought by the Attorney General's Office (AGO). The court also ordered Nadiem to pay a Rp 1 billion fine and Rp 809.6 billion ($45 million) in state restitution, with an additional five-year prison term if the restitution is not paid. Nadiem has said he cannot afford the restitution payment.
The five-judge panel, with one dissenting vote, said the Chromebook procurement program failed to achieve its objective of supporting digitalization, resulting in state losses of Rp 1.57 trillion.
“The Chromebook laptop procurement was not optimal because the devices could not be used due to the lack of internet access in many regions in Indonesia. As a result, many Chromebooks could not function as intended, meaning the state budget did not generate benefits in line with the amount spent,” Presiding Judge Mediantos said on June 30.
Nadiem has said 97 percent of the funds were used to distribute 1.1 million Chromebooks to 77,000 schools. He has denied all charges.
In dissent, Judge Andi Saputra argued that prosecutors had failed to prove Nadiem acted with criminal intent.
“From the puzzle of facts pieced together based on the evidence presented at trial, it has become clear that it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion of causality that the defendant, in his capacity as a minister, had malicious intent to commit an unlawful act,” Andi said.
Prosecutors alleged the procurement violated government purchasing regulations.
Nadiem argued the program generated savings rather than state losses and that the prosecution reflected bureaucratic resistance to reform. Former Google executives also testified there was “no connection at all” between Google's investment in GoJek and the Chromebook procurement project.
Following the verdict, Nadiem said he would appeal. “I will continue to fight for my children, my family, and for Indonesia, which I still love. I will immediately file an appeal to fight for the truth,” he told reporters outside the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on June 30.
The court cited Nadiem's cooperation during the trial, lack of prior convictions and contributions to education and technology as mitigating factors.
Nadiem was appointed to head what was then the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in 2019 after being asked to take the post by former President Joko Widodo.
Related Links:
- https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2026/06/30/breaking-nadiem-gets-10-years-in-prison-in-chromebook-corruption-case
- https://jakartaglobe.id/news/court-sentences-nadiem-makarim-to-10-years-in-chromebook-case
- https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20260630151753-12-1375138/divonis-10-tahun-penjara-kasus-chromebook-nadiem-bakal-banding
- https://www.tempo.co/hukum/hakim-ungkap-hal-meringankan-dalam-vonis-10-tahun-nadiem-2272636
OJK Prepares New IDX Ownership Rules
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) aims to finalize implementing regulations for the demutualization of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) within the next three months, following the enactment of Law 4/2026 on the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector.
Announced on June 30, the initiative will transform the IDX from a member-owned exchange into a shareholder-owned company, opening ownership to qualified investors while preserving its role as a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO).
OJK Capital Market Supervisory Chief Hasan Fawzi said the implementing rules will be issued through an OJK regulation.
Meanwhile, on June 29, the IDX appointed acting chief Jeffrey Hendrik as president director for the 2026-2030 term, and he promptly said he intends to turn the ailing bourse into a powerhouse.
"We are no longer talking about ASEAN. We are talking about how Indonesia can become one of the world's top 10 capital markets," Jeffrey told reporters after his appointment.
It will be a long road back to investor confidence for the IDX, which has fallen about 33 percent in 2026, making it one of the world's worst-performing stock exchanges. Foreign investors have sold roughly Rp 71.7 trillion ($4 billion) worth of Indonesian equities in 2026.
On July 1, the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index closed up by nearly 1 percent to close at 5,695.12.
OJK’s new framework will define the exchange’s governance structure, identify eligible shareholders, and introduce ownership caps to prevent any single shareholder from dominating the bourse.
“We are currently drafting the implementing regulations, including provisions on who may become shareholders after demutualization. The principle is that no shareholder should be allowed to control the exchange because it operates critical market infrastructure and must serve the interests of all market participants,” Hasan told reporters on June 30.
The regulations will also allow the IDX to pursue strategic partnerships with regional and international exchanges, expand commercial activities, and distribute dividends after demutualization.
The law also provides the Ministry of Finance, Bank Indonesia, and Danantara with the first opportunity to acquire shares in the exchange. Share ownership will initially be limited to Indonesian individuals and legal entities, with foreign investors permitted to participate only through Indonesian companies.
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