Jakarta Launches Manhunt for Riza Chalid Over $17.5 Billion Oil Graft Scandal
Jakarta. Indonesian prosecutors on Thursday named reclusive oil tycoon Muhammad Riza Chalid a suspect in a massive corruption case that allegedly cost the state Rp 285 trillion ($17.5 billion), marking one of the country’s largest graft scandals to date.
The Attorney General’s Office also issued an arrest order for Riza, who is believed to be residing in Singapore after repeatedly ignoring three summonses from investigators.
Riza is among nine new suspects announced in the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in crude oil procurement and fuel trading at state energy giant Pertamina between 2018 and 2023, in a scandal that rocked Indonesia’s state energy sector and raised urgent questions over corporate governance and transparency at the company.
Authorities say Pertamina subsidiaries conspired with private firms to mix low-grade fuel and sell it as a premium product while engaging in business arrangements highly detrimental to the state.
"Based on the information we’ve gathered, Riza is not in Indonesia. We have coordinated with our counterparts in Singapore and taken steps to locate and bring him back," said Abdul Qohar, the Attorney General’s Director of Investigations.
Prosecutors allege Riza colluded with Pertamina officials to secure lucrative fuel terminal rental contracts at the Merak port -- using two companies he owns: PT Tangki Merak and PT Orbit Terminal Merak. The deals reportedly violated internal governance rules at Pertamina and were pushed through despite the company not needing additional storage at the time.
According to Abdul, Riza intervened in Pertamina’s strategic decisions to force through a high-cost terminal lease that inflicted major financial losses on the state.
The businessman is widely seen as the most high-profile name among the latest suspects, having been previously linked to several political and business controversies in Indonesia.
The other eight suspects named Thursday include current and former Pertamina executives and business partners:
- Alfian Nasution – Former VP of Supply & Distribution, Pertamina (2011–2015)
- Hanung Budya – Former Director of Marketing & Commerce, Pertamina (2014)
- Toto Nugroho – Former SVP of Integrated Supply Chain, Pertamina (2017–2018)
- Dwi Sudarsono – Former VP of Crude and Product Trading, Pertamina (2019–2020)
- Arif Sukmara – Director of Gas, Petrochemicals & New Business, Pertamina International Shipping
- Hasto Wibowo – Former SVP of Integrated Supply Chain, Pertamina (2018–2020)
- Martin Haendra Nata – Former Business Development Manager, Trafigura Singapore (2020–2021)
- Indra Putra – Business Development, PT Mahameru Kencana Abadi
These new additions bring the total number of suspects in the case to 18.
Last month, prosecutors named nine other individuals, including two CEOs of Pertamina subsidiaries. They are:
- Riva Siahaan – CEO, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga
- Sani Dinar Saifuddin – Director of Feedstock & Product Optimization, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional
- Yoki Firnandi – CEO, PT Pertamina International Shipping
- Agus Purwono – VP of Feedstock Management, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional
- Maya Kusmaya – Director of Marketing & Commerce, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga
- Edward Corne – VP of Trading Operations, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga
- Muhammad Kerry Andrianto Riza – Owner, PT Navigator Khatulistiwa
- Dimas Werhaspati – Commissioner, PT Navigator Khatulistiwa & PT Jenggala Maritim
- Gading Ramadhan Joedo – Commissioner, PT Jenggala Maritim & CEO, PT Orbit Terminal Merak
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