Three officials at subsidiaries of the state-owned energy company Pertamina have been detained by Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office on suspicion of corruption involving oil imports that cost the government $12 billion, according to a senior official.
According to Abdul Qohar, the director of special crimes at the Attorney General’s office, prosecutors detained Sani Dinar Saifuddin, a director at Kilang Pertamina International; Yoki Firnandi, the CEO of Pertamina International Shipping; and Riva Siahaan, the CEO of Pertamina Patra Niaga, late on Monday.
In a statement released Tuesday, Pertamina stated that it respects the Attorney General’s Office’s continuing legal proceedings.
“The presumption of innocence is given priority in the legal process, and Pertamina is prepared to work with the authorities.”
Between 2018 and 2023, the three were accused of conspiring to defend the import of fuel and crude oil, according to Abdul, and breaking a government rule requiring Pertamina to purchase its crude oil from domestic sources.
According to him, the executives had complained that the crude oil supplied by Indonesian contractors did not live up to their expectations.
Abdul stated, “But the specification matched.”
The state lost 193.7 trillion rupiah (US$12 billion), according to the prosecution, while Kilang Pertamina Internasional and Pertamina Patra Niaga imported fuel and crude oil at “significantly higher prices.” Contractors’ crude oil was exported.
The state energy company’s retail sales and gasoline import division is called Pertamina Patra Niaga. Kilang Pertamina International turns condensate and crude oil into refined goods.
Pertamina International shipment raised shipment costs, according to the Attorney General’s office.
In the case, three further private company employees were also taken into custody, the office reported.