Nadiem Makarim Claims He Cannot Afford Rp809 Billion in Restitution
Former Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim has claimed he does not have the money to pay the Rp809 billion in restitution imposed by judges in a corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM).
“I am charged with Rp809 billion in restitution, which I do not have. They know that,” Nadiem said during a press conference at the Corruption Court on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
Nadiem explained that the magnitude of the restitution penalty indirectly means he must serve a 15-year prison sentence. “Based on my wealth report at the end of my tenure, I do not have that much money in any form. That means I am sentenced to 15 years. That Rp809 billion never touched me at all!” he stated.
Furthermore, Nadiem stressed that various documents and witness testimonies have clarified that he did not benefit from the money. “It has been proven with documents and witnesses that the money never left the account of PT AKAB, which is GoTo. I did not receive a single cent of that money, and the money belongs to PT AKAB and has nothing to do with Google or the Chromebook case. Imagine! Yet I am burdened with paying it back,” he explained.
It was previously reported that the panel of judges at the Corruption Court sentenced former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim to 10 years in prison in connection with the corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and CDM. In addition to the 10-year sentence, Nadiem was also fined Rp1 billion, which must be paid within one month.
“Sentencing the defendant to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp1 billion, which must be paid within one month and may be extended for a maximum of one month after the verdict becomes legally binding,” the presiding judge stated while reading the verdict at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday, 30 June 2026. If the fine is not paid, Nadiem’s assets or income will be seized and auctioned to settle the fine. “In the event that the proceeds from the seizure and auction of assets or income are insufficient or impossible to execute, the unpaid fine shall be replaced with 190 days of imprisonment,” the judge added.