Archive · 4 Sep 2025
Indonesia Detains Ex-Minister, Gojek Founder in Chromebook Graft Case
Imagine the government was buying laptops for schools, and the Education Minister used to run a tech company called Gojek.
Investigators think the minister made a special rule that only one type of laptop, the Chromebook, could be bought.
They say he met with Google people many times before making the rule.
They believe this helped him or his company in an unfair way.
The government thinks this caused a big loss of money.
The former minister has been arrested and will be held for about three weeks while the police investigate.
Nadiem Makarim, former Indonesian Education Minister, is a suspect in a corruption case.
The case involves alleged improper procurement of Chromebook laptops.
Makarim is accused of misusing his authority and is now detained for 20 days.
The government estimates a loss of 1.98 trillion rupiah ($121.85 million) due to the case.
Makarim issued a decree specifying laptop requirements that matched only Chromebooks.
- Who
- Nadiem Makarim, former Indonesian Education Minister and Gojek co-founder.
- What
- Detained as a suspect in a corruption case related to alleged improper procurement of Chromebook laptops.
- When
- Detention began Thursday, based on Reuters report.
- Where
- Indonesia
- Why
- Suspected of misusing his authority to enrich himself or a company through procurement specifications.
- Suspect
- Nadiem Makarim (former Education Minister and Gojek co-founder)
- Allegation
- Misuse of authority for improper laptop procurement
- Loss to State
- 1.98 trillion rupiah ($121.85 million)
- Detention Period
- 20 days
- Laptop in Question
- Google Chromebook
- Key Action
- Makarim issued a decree matching only Chromebook specifications
- Meetings
- Makarim met Google Indonesia representatives six times before the decree.