Ahok appears as witness in Pertamina LNG procurement corruption case hearing

Jakarta — Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, who served as chairman of PT Pertamina (Persero) from 2019 to 2024, appeared as a witness in a hearing of an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Pertamina at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.

Ahok arrived at approximately 10:00 local time, dressed in a white long-sleeved batik shirt with black patterns. Upon arrival at the Central Jakarta District Court, Ahok proceeded directly to the Wirjono Projodikoro 2 courtroom to await the commencement of the hearing.

“You will just have to wait; during the hearing they will ask questions,” said Ahok.

Ahok will testify in an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of LNG from Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC (CCL) at Pertamina and related agencies between 2011 and 2021, which implicates Hari Karyuliarto, former director of the Gas Directorate at Pertamina during 2012-2014.

The case also involves Yenni Andayani, vice president for Strategic Planning and Business Development at the Gas Directorate during 2012-2013, as a defendant.

Both defendants are accused of causing state financial losses valued at USD 113.84 million, or approximately Rp1.77 trillion, through unlawful conduct that enriched former Pertamina chief executive Galaila Karen Kardinah, also known as Karen Agustiawan, by Rp1.09 billion and USD 104,016, as well as enriching CCL by USD 113.84 million.

The unlawful conduct allegedly committed by both defendants includes Hari’s failure to establish guidelines for the LNG procurement process from international sources and his continued processing of LNG procurement from Cheniere Energy Inc. Yenni is accused of proposing that Hari sign a Circular Board Meeting Minutes concerning the decision to sign LNG purchase agreements for Train 1 and Train 2 from CCL without supporting economic assessments, risk analyses, and their mitigation, and without secured LNG buyers bound by agreement.

Consequently, the conduct of both defendants is regulated and subject to penalties under Article 2, paragraph 1, or Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Offences as amended and supplemented by Law No. 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 55, paragraph 1, clause 1, and Article 64, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.