4.5-Year Prison Sentence in LNG Case Deemed Unfair

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Hari Karyuliarto, Director of Gas at PT Pertamina (Persero) from 2012-2014, considers the 4 years and 6 months prison sentence imposed on him in the alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be unfair and malicious.

“So, this is a very malicious decision, unfair, and I think it was set up from the beginning,” Hari stated when met after the verdict reading session at the Corruption Court in the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.

He explained that many facts were overlooked during the trial, such as the resale conducted during the COVID-19 period, the reduction in securities during COVID-19 which almost all resulted in losses, and profits that were not taken into account.

According to him, the judge in the verdict only considered the prosecution’s demands and the Audit Examination Report (LHP) from the Financial Audit Board (BPK).

However, Hari claimed that the LHP issued by the BPK is illegal because it was signed by an unauthorised person.

“The LHP is also substandard because it was conducted in violation of PSP 200 and PSP 300 guidelines,” he said.

In the alleged corruption case involving the procurement of LNG from Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC (CCL) for Pertamina and related institutions from 2011-2021, Hari was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment.

In addition, both defendants were also fined Rp200 million each, with the provision that if not paid, it would be substituted with imprisonment for 80 days.

Thus, they were found guilty of violating Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law No. 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) first jo. Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.