AGO names suspects in sale of Pertamina?s VLCC
Saturday, November 3 2007 - 01:27 AM WIB
Three former top officials at state oil and gas company PT Pertamina were named as suspects by prosecutors on Friday in connection with the controversial sale of two very large crude carriers (VLCC) in 2004.
Former Pertamina president Ariffi Nawawi, former finance director Alfred Rohimone and ex-chief commissioner Laksamana Sukardi, a former state enterprises minister, would be summoned for questioning next week, said deputy attorney general for special crimes, Kemas Yahya Rahman.
Prosecutors suspect the VLCC were sold below market price and estimate losses to the state resulting from the sale at $20 million.
Pertamina sold the two carriers for $184 million to Norwegian tanker shipping giant Frontline in 2004 without the permission of the finance minister as required by regulations, the attorney general's office has said. (*)