The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named seven individuals − four are top officials within PT Pertamina Group and the other three are business partners − as suspects in a corruption case related to mismanagement of crude oil and refinery products at the State energy company, its subholdings and contractors during the 2018-2023 period.

AGO Spokesman, Harli Siregar, said that the Office’s investigation found strong evidence of systematic corruption involving high-ranking officials within Pertamina, as well as the private sector, which had resulted in State losses of approximately Rp 193.7 trillion (US$12.5 billion). 

"This case involves a deliberate scheme to manipulate domestic oil supply and import processes for illegal financial gains," Harli Siregar said as quoted in a statement on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

The suspects are Riva Siahaan, President Director of Pertamina’s commercial and trading subholding company PT Pertamina Patra Niaga; Sani Dinar Saifuddin, Director of Feedstock and Product Optimization at Pertamina’s refinery and petrochemical arm PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional; Yoko Firnandi, President Director of Pertamina’s shipping subholding PT Pertamina International Shipping; Agus Purwono,  Vice President of Feedstock Management at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional; Muhammad Kerry Andrianto Riza, Beneficial Owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa; Dimas Werhaspati, Commissioner at PT Navigator Khatulistiwa and PT Jenggala Maritim; and Gading Ramadhan Joedo, Commissioner at PT Jenggala Maritim and President Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak.

According to prosecutors, the key Pertamina officials manipulated refinery production levels to justify crude oil imports at inflated prices, bypassing domestic supply obligations. This fraudulent practice was allegedly conducted in collaboration with brokers, who secured pre-arranged procurement contracts at premium rates.

The investigation has secured 969 documents and 45 pieces of electronic evidence, and questioned 96 witnesses and two experts in relation with the case.

The suspects are being charged under Law No. 31/1999 on Corruption Eradication, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Case background

The Indonesian government mandates Pertamina to prioritize domestic crude oil purchases before resorting to imports. However, investigators found that the four senior Pertamina officials deliberately restricted domestic refinery output, forcing Indonesia to import crude oil and refined products at significantly higher costs.

Breakdown of State losses:

              •            Rp35 trillion (about US$2.149 billion) – Losses from exporting domestic crude oil instead of refining it

              •            Rp2.7 trillion (about US$165.78 million) – Losses from overpriced crude oil imports

              •            Rp9 trillion (about US$552.6 million) – Losses from overpriced refined fuel imports

              •            Rp126 trillion (about US$7.7364 billion) – Excess compensation payments due to inflated fuel prices in 2023

              •            Rp21 trillion (about US$1.2894 billion) – Excess fuel subsidies in 2023

Pertamina’s response

PT Pertamina has issued a statement regarding the alleged corruption case within the Pertamina Group and its contractors.

Pertamina Vice President for Corporate Communication (Persero), Fadjar Djoko Santoso, said that Pertamina ensures that energy distribution services across Indonesia would continue to run smoothly and optimally.

"Pertamina guarantees that energy distribution services for the public remain our top priority and continue to operate normally as usual," Fadjar said in a statement on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. 

“Pertamina Group conducts its business with a strong commitment to transparency and accountability, adhering to the principles of Good Corporate Governance (GCG) and all applicable regulations,” he cited.

He further emphasized that Pertamina is prepared to cooperate with the authorities and hopes that the legal process will proceed smoothly while upholding the principle of the presumption of innocence.