Jakarta. Interpol has issued a red notice for oil businessman Muhammad Riza Chalid, who is a suspect in a major corruption case involving the governance of crude oil and fuel trading at Pertamina, an Indonesian police official said on Sunday.

The red notice was issued last week following a request submitted by Indonesian authorities in September 2025, according to Brig. Gen. Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of the International Relations Division of the Indonesian National Police.

“We have mapped and identified the whereabouts of the suspect,” Untung said at a press conference at National Police Headquarters in Jakarta.

He said police are continuing to coordinate with law enforcement authorities in the country believed to be sheltering Riza, without providing further details. Untung added that the fugitive holds only an Indonesian passport, which he said should facilitate tracking efforts.

However, he cautioned that the process of returning an international fugitive is rarely swift.

“This will take considerable time, as it must align with the legal dynamics and differences in judicial systems in the country concerned,” Untung said.

Riza was named a suspect by the Attorney General’s Office for allegedly conspiring with several Pertamina officials to blend low-quality fuel and market it as higher-grade products at a refinery under his control.

As the beneficial owner of Tangki Merak and Orbit Terminal Merak, he is also accused of intervening in decisions to lease fuel storage terminals at the Port of Merak in Banten, despite the facilities not being operationally required by Pertamina at the time.

The case has drawn widespread attention due to the scale of alleged state losses, estimated at Rp 285 trillion, or nearly $17 billion. Prosecutors have named a total of 20 suspects in the case, including Pertamina Patra Niaga president director Riva Siahaan and Pertamina International Shipping president director Yoki Firnandi.

Investigators estimate the alleged corruption scheme took place between 2018 and 2023. Prosecutors intensified their probe into the case in July 2025.
 

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