INDONESIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE NAMES SEVEN SUSPECTS IN CRUDE OIL GOVERNANCE CORRUPTION CASE

JAKARTA, Feb 25 (Bernama-ANTARA) -- Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has named seven suspects in an alleged corruption case involving the governance of crude oil and refinery products at PT Pertamina Subholding and the Cooperation Contract Contractors (KKKS) from 2018 to 2023, reported ANTARA news agency.

"Based on witness statements, expert testimony, and legally seized documentary evidence, investigators have officially identified seven individuals as suspects tonight," said Abdul Qohar, Director of Investigations at the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), at the AGO building in Jakarta on Monday night.

The seven suspects identified by initials include RS, President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga; SDS, Director of Feedstock and Product Optimisation at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional; and YF, a representative of PT Pertamina International Shipping.

Others named are AP, Vice President of Feedstock Management at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional; MKAR, the beneficial owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa; DW, Commissioner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa and PT Jenggala Maritim; and GRJ, Commissioner of PT Jenggala Maritim and Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak.

According to Qohar, the suspects will be detained for the next 20 days to facilitate investigations, starting Monday night (February 24).

Meanwhile, Pertamina said it respected the Attorney General’s Office’s decision to name the suspects.

"Pertamina is prepared to cooperate with the authorities and hopes that the legal process will run smoothly while upholding the presumption of innocence," said Fadjar Djoko Santoso, VP of Corporate Communication at Pertamina.

Earlier, the Head of the Legal Information Centre at the Attorney General’s Office, Harli Siregar, stated that the case began when the government issued Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 42 of 2018, which prioritises the utilisation of crude oil to meet domestic needs.

"As a result, PT Pertamina was required to source domestically produced oil to fulfil national needs," he said.

He further explained that crude oil from private KKKS contractors was mandated to be offered to PT Pertamina first. If Pertamina rejected the offer, the rejection could then be used as the basis for applying for an export recommendation.

However, Pertamina’s sub-holding, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI), is suspected of attempting to bypass agreements.

Additionally, during the period in question, the State’s Share of Crude Oil and Condensate (MMKBN) was exported due to reduced refinery intake capacity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PT Pertamina instead imported crude oil to meet refinery intake requirements.

--BERNAMA-ANTARA