Court jails nine in Pertamina oil corruption case

The Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday sentenced nine defendants, including former executives of state energy firm Pertamina and private sector figures, to prison terms of up to 15 years in a corruption case involving crude oil and refinery product governance between 2018 and 2023.

The verdict hearing at the Court began on Thursday afternoon and concluded early Friday morning, lasting nearly 12 hours. The panel of judges, chaired by Fajar Kusuma Aji, delivered rulings in three separate clusters of defendants.

Former Pertamina Patra Niaga executives jailed

In the first cluster, former President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga (2023) Riva Siahaan and former Marketing and Trading Director Maya Kusuma were each sentenced to nine years in prison. Edward Corne, Vice President of Trading Products at Pertamina Patra Niaga (2023–2025), was sentenced to 10 years.

All three were fined Rp1 billion each, with a subsidiary penalty of 190 days’ imprisonment.

Prosecutors had sought 14 years for Riva. The court found that Riva and Maya had granted preferential treatment to several foreign companies in refinery product import projects, based on recommendations from Edward.

According to the ruling, Edward leaked the owner’s estimated price (HPS) to partner companies, enabling them to adjust their bids and win tenders. Companies mentioned during proceedings included BP Singapore Pte Ltd and Sinochem International Oil Pte Ltd.

The judges ruled that although the three were guilty of jointly committing corruption, they were not ordered to pay restitution as the court determined they did not personally receive or enjoy proceeds of the crime.

Additional Pertamina executives convicted

In the second cluster, Yoki Firnandi, former President Director of PT Pertamina International Shipping (2022–2024), and Sani Dinar Saifudin, Director of Feedstock and Product Optimization at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (2022–2025), were each sentenced to nine years in prison.

Read also: KPK detains former Pertamina director in catalyst procurement bribery case

Agus Purwono, Vice President of Feedstock Management at Kilang Pertamina Internasional (2023–2024), received a 10-year sentence.

Each was also fined Rp1 billion, subsidiary to 190 days in prison.

Private sector figures receive heavier sentences

In the third cluster, private sector defendants received heavier penalties.

Muhammad Kerry Andrianto Riza, beneficial owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined Rp1 billion. He was also ordered to pay Rp2.9 trillion in restitution, subsidiary to five years in prison if unpaid.

Gading Ramadhan Juedo, commissioner of PT Pelayaran Mahameru Kencana Abadi, and Dimas Werhaspati, commissioner of PT Jenggala Maritim Nusantara, were each sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined Rp1 billion.

State losses and potential appeal

The court found that the defendants had jointly committed corruption and that the case caused state financial losses based on calculations by Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

Judges emphasized that business decisions cannot be assessed in isolation, but must be reviewed holistically, including whether procurement processes were manipulated, whether the decisions benefited Pertamina, and whether good corporate governance principles were upheld.

Prosecutors said they would review the verdict before deciding whether to appeal, noting that the sentences were lower than demanded and that there were differences in views regarding restitution and calculations of state economic losses.

“All of this will be considered when determining whether to file an appeal,” prosecutor Zulkipli told reporters on Friday.

Prosecutors had previously alleged that mismanagement in crude oil and refinery product imports and the sale of non-subsidized diesel fuel caused massive state losses. The indictment cited alleged losses of Rp285 trillion, while court findings referenced state financial losses of $2.7 billion and Rp25.4 trillion.

The defendants were convicted under Indonesia’s Criminal Code and the Anti-Corruption Law.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak