JAKARTA, JOURNALARTA.COM – Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Chromebook laptop procurement corruption case. The verdict was read out directly by the panel of judges at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court in a hearing held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The sentence carries major implications for law enforcement in the education sector. In addition to prison time, the judges also ordered Nadiem to pay a fine of Rp1 billion, with a subsidiary sentence of 190 days in jail, as well as replacement money of Rp809 billion.
That figure is far below the demand from the public prosecutor, who sought an 18-year prison term and damages of Rp5.68 trillion. To date, Nadiem’s former special staff member, Jurist Tan, is reportedly still a fugitive.
Chronology of Nadiem Makarim’s Chromebook Corruption Case
The investigation into the case had actually been underway since 2025 before ultimately leading to the judge’s verdict. Here is the timeline of the case from the naming of suspects to the final verdict hearing:
| Date | Event Details |
|---|---|
| September 4, 2025 | The Attorney General’s Office named Nadiem Makarim a suspect in the Chromebook procurement corruption case for the 2019-2022 period. |
| May 13, 2026 | The public prosecutor read out a demand for 18 years in prison, a Rp1 billion fine, and replacement money of Rp5.68 trillion. |
| June 2, 2026 | Nadiem delivered his personal defense statement (plea) and claimed the digitalization program did not harm state finances. |
| June 30, 2026 | The panel of judges at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court handed down a sentence of 10 years in prison and a Rp1 billion fine to the defendant. |
Charges: State Losses of Rp2.18 Trillion
The public prosecutor charged Nadiem Makarim with corruption in the Chromebook laptop and Chrome Device Management (CDM) procurement project within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019 to 2022 fiscal years.
Audit results showed that the total state financial loss from the project reached Rp2.18 trillion. Prosecutors detailed the losses as consisting of Rp1.56 trillion from the education digitalization program, which was deemed inconsistent with the original plan, plus Rp621.39 billion for the procurement of CDM worth US$44.05 million, which was considered not urgent to carry out.
The indictment also revealed that Nadiem received an inflow of Rp809.59 billion from PT AKAB through PT Gojek Indonesia. The funds were allegedly sourced from Google investment totaling US$786.99 million.
List of Chromebook Defendants and Judges’ Sentences
This trillion-rupiah corruption case ensnared a number of top officials at the ministry and private-sector figures. Here is a breakdown of the defendants and the sentences handed down by the panel of judges:
| Defendant | Position / Role | Judges’ Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Nadiem Anwar Makarim | Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology | 10 years in prison, Rp1 billion fine, Rp809 billion replacement payment |
| Mulyatsyah | Former Director of Juneor High Schools at the ministry | 4.5 years in prison |
| Sri Wahyuningsih | Former Director of Elementary Schools at the ministry | 4 years in prison |
| Ibrahim Arief (Ibam) | Project Consultant | 4 years in prison, Rp500 million fine |
| Jurist Tan | Former special staff member to Nadiem | Wanted list / Fugitive |
Judges’ Considerations: Subsidiary Charge Proven
In their ruling, the panel of judges stated that Nadiem Makarim was not legally and convincingly proven guilty of corruption as charged in the primary count.
However, the judges found the defendant guilty of committing corruption together with others as charged in the subsidiary count.
That legal consideration is what made the 10-year sentence lighter than the prosecutor’s original demand. Regarding the Rp809 billion replacement money, the defendant must pay it no later than one month after the verdict becomes final and binding.
If the obligation is not met, his assets will be seized and auctioned by prosecutors, or replaced with an additional 5-year prison term.
Nadiem Makarim’s Defense: State Losses Were Fabricated
When reading his defense statement at the June 2, 2026 hearing, Nadiem Makarim and his legal team objected to the prosecutor’s charges. They stressed that the calculation of the Rp2.18 trillion state loss was inaccurate and appeared to have been fabricated by investigators.
The defendant’s side insisted that the entire Chromebook procurement process in schools had proceeded according to standard procedures and caused no state financial loss at all.
Although the defense was submitted in writing, the panel of judges remained convinced to convict the former Gojek founder.
What do you think about the 10-year prison sentence for the former education minister? Is the punishment fair, or too light considering the size of the education budget that was embezzled? Share your opinion in the comments below.
FAQ:
Q: How long was Nadiem Makarim sentenced in the Chromebook case?
A: He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a Rp1 billion fine, and an obligation to pay Rp809 billion in replacement money under the court ruling dated June 30, 2026.
Q: How much was the state loss in the Chromebook case?
A: The total state financial loss reached Rp2.18 trillion, consisting of Rp1.56 trillion from the digitalization program and Rp621.39 billion from CDM services procurement.
Q: Who are the defendants in the Chromebook case?
A: The defendants are Nadiem Makarim, Mulyatsyah, Sri Wahyuningsih, and Ibrahim Arief. Meanwhile, former special staff member Jurist Tan is still a fugitive.
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