Attorney General's Office Explains Why OTM CEO Must Sign Fuel Terminal Documents in Prison

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has explained the reason why the defendant, who is also the President Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak (OTM), Gading Ramadhan Joedo, is still required to sign PT OTM’s operational documents even though he has been detained in a detention centre for the corruption case involving the governance of crude oil and refinery products at PT Pertamina Persero.

“PT OTM still has responsibilities for maintaining the fuel terminal, while the defendant Gading remains the President Director,” said the Director of Prosecution at the AGO, Riono Budisantoso, when confirmed by Kompas.com on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

The operations of PT OTM are considered a civil aspect separate from the criminal acts committed by Gading and the other defendants.

“As long as it concerns civil relations, the individual can still carry them out. The individual is charged and tried for his role in the procurement of the fuel terminal lease, not because of his appointment as President Director,” added Riono.

Gading conveyed this when examined as a witness in the trial of the defendant, Director of Marketing and Commerce at PT Pertamina Persero from April 2012-2014, Hanung Budya Yuktyanta, and former VP of Supply and Distribution at PT Pertamina (Persero), Alfian Nasution.

“When I was detained in the detention centre, (the prosecutors) brought several document files that I had to sign. Please note this. What I signed were operational activities,” said Gading during the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday (31/3/2026).

Gading stated that the documents he signed regulated PT OTM’s operations, from employee salary payments, payments to third parties, to the company’s monthly expenses.

“I had to sign them because I am still an active director,” said Gading.

When designated as a suspect, Gading was handed over to the prosecution for detention in the KPK detention centre. Routinely, prosecutors brought several documents for him to sign.

However, due to persuasion from the prosecutors, he signed them.

Gading only refused to sign the documents after he had been found guilty.

“I signed all the operational documents. Because salaries must be paid, all operational activity costs carried out in the field must be paid. Because there are 300,000 kilolitres of Pertamina oil, Pertamina fuel entering my terminal every month,” explained Gading.