Indonesia's Gojek Founder Nadiem Makarim Sentenced to Prison for Education Ministry Corruption
Primary region Asia
Tags Corruption · Justice
Regions Asia
Nadiem Makarim, founder of Indonesia's super-app Gojek and its merged entity GoTo, was sentenced to prison by an Indonesian court for corruption related to a laptop procurement deal during his tenure as Education Minister from 2019 to 2024 in President Joko Widodo's cabinet. The ruling by the anti-corruption court in Jakarta represents a rare conviction of a high-profile tech billionaire and sitting cabinet member. Makarim built Indonesia's first decacorn startup and was widely viewed as a symbol of the country's digital economy ambitions.
Strategic interpretation
The KPK's pursuit of a Widodo-era minister signals the anti-corruption commission operates independently of executive transition politics. The verdict may weaken public trust in Widodo's cabinet legacy and chill entrepreneurship among officials, though it also demonstrates institutional checks on elite impunity.