ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) of Indonesia has officially launched efforts to track down oil tycoon Mohammad Riza Chalid, who has been named a key suspect in a massive corruption scandal involving the management of crude oil and refined fuel products at state-owned energy giant PT Pertamina (Persero) from 2018 to 2023.
Riza Chalid is the only suspect still at large among 18 individuals charged in the case. Authorities believe he is currently hiding abroad, most likely in Singapore, after repeatedly failing to respond to official summonses from prosecutors.
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, AGO Director of Investigations Abdul Qohar announced nine new suspects, including several senior officials from Pertamina and executives from private companies: (1) AN, Vice President of Supply and Distribution at PT Pertamina, (2) HB, Director of Marketing and Commerce, (3) TN, Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain, (4) DS, VP of Crude and Trading (2019–2020), (5) AS, Director of Gas Petrochemical at Pertamina International Shipping, (6) HW, VP of Integrated Supply Chain (2019–2020), (7) MH, Business Development Manager at Trafigura (2019–2021), (8) IP, Business Development Manager at PT Mahameru Kencana Abadi, (9) Riza Chalid, oil trader and owner of PT Orbit Terminal Merak.
The eight suspects apart from Riza were immediately detained for 20 days to assist the ongoing investigation. These charges follow the initial wave of nine suspects named earlier this year, including Riva Siahaan, CEO of Pertamina Patra Niaga, and Yoki Firnandi, CEO of Pertamina International Shipping.
Riza Chalid’s Key Role in the Corruption Scheme
Riza Chalid is alleged to be the beneficial owner of PT Tangki Merak and PT Orbit Terminal Merak, companies linked to the illicit leasing of fuel storage facilities to Pertamina. He is accused of conspiring with three other suspects — HB, AN, and GRJ — to secure a rental agreement for BBM (fuel) storage tanks at Merak Terminal despite Pertamina having no actual need for additional storage at the time.
According to prosecutors, they manipulated contract terms by omitting asset ownership clauses and inflating the rental prices, resulting in significant financial loss to the state.
Chalid Believed to Have Left Indonesia Long Ago
The AGO has placed a travel ban on Riza Chalid and is now working closely with the Indonesian Attorney’s Office in Singapore and the Immigration Ministry to determine his exact location.
“He has failed to respond to three legally valid summons. Based on our findings, he is no longer residing in Indonesia,” said Harli Siregar, Head of the AGO’s Legal Information Center, Monday 14, 2025.
Authorities are also considering officially placing Riza Chalid on the wanted list (DPO) if he continues to avoid cooperating with the legal process.
His Son Also Among the Accused
The scandal has also implicated Riza Chalid’s son, Muhammad Kerry Andrianto Riza (MKAR), who was named a suspect in February 2025. Kerry is the beneficial owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa, another company believed to have played a role in the fake terminal rental scheme.
According to the AGO, the financial loss to the state caused by the Pertamina corruption scandal has reached IDR 285 trillion, making it one of the largest corruption cases in Indonesia’s history.
The case has reignited public concern over the long-standing influence of oil and gas cartels, or “mafia migas,” in Indonesia’s energy sector — many of whom have historically evaded accountability. (AT Network)
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