Gojek co-founder arrested and detained.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Nadiem Makarim has been named as a suspect in a corruption case involving alleged improper procurement of laptops, according to Reuters.

According to Reuters, on Thursday, Indonesian investigators named Nadiem Makarim, former Education Minister and co-founder of the ride-hailing app Gojek, as a suspect in a corruption case involving alleged improper procurement of laptops.

Authorities also announced that Makarim has been taken into custody. An investigator at the Attorney General's Office said Makarim will be held for 20 days while the investigation continues.

According to investigator Nurcahyo Jungkung Madyo, Makarim, who served as Minister of Education from 2019 to 2024, is accused of being involved in the procurement of Google Chromebook laptops for use within the ministry and for students.

Makarim is accused of abusing his ministerial power for personal gain or for a company, violating Indonesia's anti-corruption laws. Investigators estimate the case cost the state 1.98 trillion rupiah (approximately $121.85 million).

"For investigative purposes, Mr. Makarim will be held in custody for the next 20 days," Nurcahyo said at a press conference.

According to Nurcahyo, the prosecution discovered that Makarim had issued a 2021 decree stipulating procurement specifications only suitable for Chromebooks. Before choosing Chromebooks, Makarim met with Google Indonesia representatives six times, Nurcahyo told reporters.

Nadiem Makarim, co-founder of the ride-hailing app Gojek (Photo: Reuters).

"I did nothing. God will protect me, the truth will come out," local media quoted Makarim as saying before leaving the prosecutor's office to go to a detention facility.

His lawyer has not responded to Reuters' request for comment.

Google Indonesia declined to comment on Mr. Makarim's case. The company stated that it works with distributors and partners to provide technology, and that government agencies deal with these partners, not directly with Google.

Last July, the Attorney General's office searched the headquarters of the technology company GoTo Gojek Tokopedia to look for related evidence, but provided no further details.

“GoTo’s activities are completely unrelated to Nadiem Makarim’s duties as Education Minister, including the procurement of Chromebooks for the ministry,” Ade Mulya, GoTo’s Director of External Affairs and Communications, said in a statement Thursday evening.

Mr. Makarim left Gojek after being appointed minister in 2019. Gojek merged with e-commerce startup Tokopedia in 2021 to form GoTo Gojek Tokopedia, Indonesia's largest technology company.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/dong-sang-lap-gojek-bi-bat-tam-giam-20250905170915330.htm