Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Indonesian Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has arrested two new suspects in the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption case involving the management of crude oil and refinery products at state-owned oil company PT Pertamina (Persero).
The suspects, identified as MK, the Director of Central Marketing and Commerce at Pertamina Patra Niaga, and EC, the Vice President of Trading Operations at the same subsidiary, were taken into custody on Wednesday evening.
The arrest was announced by the Director of Investigations at the Attorney General’s Special Crimes Unit (Jampidsus), Abdul Qohar during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday night (Ferburay 26).
“Investigators have found sufficient evidence indicating that the two suspects were involved in criminal activities alongside seven other previously identified suspects,” said Qohar, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
Qohar explained that MK and EC had been questioned since 3:00 PM local time as witnesses before investigators obtained enough evidence to implicate them in the Pertamina corruption case.
They were subsequently detained at the Salemba detention facility under Kejagung’s jurisdiction for further investigation. “Investigators have decided to detain them for the next 20 days,” Qohar stated.
New Suspect Role on the Case
According to Qohar, the two suspects were involved in purchasing RON 90 or lower-grade fuel at the price of RON 92, with the approval of another suspect, RS, the President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga. This resulted in excessive payments for imported refinery products that did not match their actual quality.
“Suspect MK instructed or approved EC to blend RON 88 (Premium) with RON 92 (Pertamax) at PT Orbit Terminal Merak storage facility, selling the mixture at RON 92 prices,” Qohar explained.
Additionally, MK and EC used a spot purchasing method for refinery product imports, which involved direct transactions at current market prices. However, investigators noted that a term contract system—where purchases are made in advance at predetermined prices—should have been used to secure fairer pricing.
As a result, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga ended up overpaying for refinery product imports from business partners, including DMUT.
Qohar further alleged that MK and EC knowingly approved inflated shipping contract costs orchestrated by YF, the President Director of PT Pertamina International Shipping. This led to PT Pertamina Patra Niaga unlawfully paying an additional shipping fee of 13% to 15%.
“This fee was then funneled to MKAR, the Beneficial Owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa, and DW, a Commissioner at the same company,” Qohar added.
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Seven Suspects Named in Pertamina Corruption Case, State Losses Over Rp193 Trillion
Nine Suspects in Total, Including Top Executives
With these latest arrests, the number of suspects involved in the Pertamina corruption case has risen to nine. The seven previously named suspects include four Pertamina employees and three private-sector individuals:
- RS – President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga
- SDS – Director of Feedstock and Product Optimization at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional
- YF – President Director of PT Pertamina International Shipping
- AP – Vice President of Feedstock Management at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional
- MKAR – Beneficial Owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa
- DW – Commissioner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa and PT Jenggala Maritim
- YRJ – Commissioner of PT Jenggala Maritim and President Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak
The Attorney General’s Office estimates that the corruption case has resulted in state losses amounting to approximately Rp193.7 trillion (around $12.5 billion).
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have indicated that additional arrests may follow as they continue to uncover the full scope of the corruption scheme.
(Raidi/Agung)
