Rancak Media — Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim has finally broken his silence following a staggering demand from public prosecutors in his ongoing corruption trial. The case centers on alleged irregularities in the procurement of Chromebook laptops, and Makarim has firmly denied any correlation between his personal wealth and the charges brought against him.
During a court session held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, prosecutors demanded that Nadiem Makarim pay restitution totaling Rp5.6 trillion. This astronomical figure is composed of Rp809.5 billion and Rp4.8 trillion, which the prosecution alleges are the proceeds of corruption committed during his tenure as Minister.
Responding to the harsh demand, the former minister expressed deep dismay. He clarified that the amount cited by prosecutors does not reflect his current actual wealth, but rather represented the peak valuation of his GoJek shares immediately following the company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO).
“What hurts me the most is that I have dedicated nine to ten years of my life to this country. Yet, the restitution demand is based on the peak valuation of my wealth during the IPO—a fleeting moment that does not represent my real assets,” Makarim stated through a social media post shared by his wife, Franka Makarim.
Makarim expressed confusion over the prosecution’s basis for the demand, noting that it unfairly links the wealth generated from his technology company to the Chromebook procurement case. He maintained that his entire fortune was earned legally as the founder of GoJek, long before he entered government service.
He argued that the company he built has provided significant benefits to the Indonesian public by creating millions of job opportunities. Consequently, he feels it is fundamentally unjust to equate the value of his GoJek shares with alleged corruption involving laptop procurement for a national education program.
Beyond the multi-trillion-rupiah restitution, the legal stakes remain severe. Prosecutors have sought an 18-year prison sentence and a fine of Rp1 billion. Furthermore, if the restitution of Rp5.6 trillion is not paid within one month of a final, legally binding court verdict, the state is authorized to seize and auction off all of Makarim’s personal assets.
Should the proceeds from these seizures fail to meet the full amount of the restitution, Makarim faces an additional nine-year prison sentence as a penalty.
The legal proceedings stem from alleged irregularities in the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) systems for the national digital education program between 2020 and 2022. Prosecutors argue that the procurement process lacked adequate planning and failed to conduct a justifiable market price survey. As a result, the program reportedly failed to function optimally, particularly in the disadvantaged 3T regions (Frontier, Outermost, and Underdeveloped).
Due to these allegations, Nadiem Makarim has been charged with violating several provisions under the Law on the Eradication of Corruption and the Criminal Code (KUHP). (Tribun Trends/Tribunnews Bogor)
Summary
Former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim is facing a corruption trial involving alleged irregularities in the procurement of Chromebooks and Chrome Device Management systems. Prosecutors have demanded a restitution of Rp5.6 trillion and an 18-year prison sentence, arguing that the procurement process lacked proper planning and market research. If the restitution is not paid, the state intends to seize Makarim’s assets, with the potential for an additional nine-year prison term.
Makarim has firmly denied the allegations, stating that the restitution figure unfairly equates his personal wealth from GoJek’s IPO with the corruption case. He emphasized that his fortune was earned legally as a technology founder long before his tenure in government. Makarim expressed dismay over the prosecution’s methodology, maintaining that linking his private business success to a national education procurement scandal is fundamentally unjust.
