Indonesian prosecutors seek 18 years in prison for Gojek founder over alleged corruption
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — indonesian Prosecutors on Wednesday sought an 18-year prison sentence for the co-founder of the ride-hailing and payments giant gojek for his alleged role in a corruption case linked to the acquisition of Google Chromebook laptops for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the hearing on this date of Jakarta At the Corruption Tribunal, prosecutors also sought a fine of 1 billion rupees (about $57,180) and the seizure of: ‘Nadiem Enver Makarim’ The company will lose its assets if it cannot repay the 809 billion rupiah (about $48.2 million) tied to the program and the 4.8 trillion rupiah (about $275.4 million) of funds they describe as unexplained wealth.
Under the recommendation, he faces an additional nine years in prison if he fails to comply within one month of the final court order.
I had macari He was arrested in September It follows an investigation into the purchase, which prosecutors say resulted in a state loss of about $125 million. Earlier this week, judges approved changing his detention status to house arrest following surgery.
The hearing, attended by hundreds of “ojek” motorcycle taxi drivers who showed solidarity for the man who revolutionized Indonesia’s gig economy, attracted great public attention.
case centers Following allegations that Makarim, who served as education minister from 2019 to 2024, “enriched himself” through the government’s Chromebook purchase program in 2020-2022. Prosecutors told the three-judge panel that he abused his office to influence policy decisions and corporate relationships.
They alleged that Makarim pressured Google to invest in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB), the parent company of Gojek, which later became part of GoTo Group.
Prosecutors downplayed testimony during trials three former Google executives He said Google’s investment in GoTo had nothing to do with the Indonesian government’s decision to purchase Chromebooks for schools.
“Google’s investment in GoTo is considered to be a mutually beneficial relationship that may have influenced its Chromebook purchasing policy,” prosecutors told the court, arguing that the Chromebook purchase and Google’s investment totaling US$787 million through Google Asia Pacific were linked.
A panel of judges is expected to rule in the coming weeks. If convicted, Makarim faces one of the harshest corruption sentences in recent Indonesian history.
Responding to the request for punishment, Makarim denied the crime and criticized the sentence, which he described as excessive punishment.
“These are legitimate profits from establishing a company and creating jobs,” he told reporters after the hearing, referring to his stake in Gojek. “I’m actually facing 27 or 28 years in prison, which is much more than most violent criminals.”
He said there was “no administrative violation and no element of corruption” in his actions, adding that the restitution sought by prosecutors far exceeded his actual wealth.
The Chromebook program was launched during the pandemic period to support distance learning. Prosecutors said Makarim chose Chromebooks despite concerns they would be ineffective in areas with limited internet access.
Makarim maintained that purchasing decisions were made by technical officials, not by him. His lawyers claim that he left PT AKAB as soon as he took office and that his wealth decreased during his tenure.
