Attorney General's Office Reveals Tender Conditioning Scheme in Petral Case
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has revealed the modus operandi of tender conditioning in the alleged corruption case involving the procurement of crude oil and refinery products at Pertamina Energy Trading Ltd. (Petral) from 2008 to 2015.
Director of Investigation of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) of the AGO, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, at the Jampidsus Building of the AGO in Jakarta on Thursday, explained that during the period 2008–2015, there were procurements of crude oil and refinery products.
The case began to unravel when investigators discovered facts regarding the leakage of confidential internal information from Petral Energy Services (PES) about crude oil and gasoline needs, as well as other information.
He revealed that suspect Mohammad Riza Chalid (MRC), as the beneficial owner, along with suspect IRW, as the director of companies owned by Riza, had influenced the procurement or tender process for crude oil, refinery products, and transportation.
“Essentially, Mr. MRC through Mr. IRW conducted communications with procurement officials both at Petral and Pertamina, including suspect BBG, Mr. MLY, and Mr. TFK,” he said.
He stated that these communications involved tender conditioning and information on HPS (estimated own price) values, resulting in mark-ups or inflated prices because the procurement became non-competitive.
Then, to accommodate the interests of Riza Chalid and IRW, in July 2012, suspects BBG, AGS, NRD, and MLY issued guidelines that contradicted the minutes of the board of directors’ meeting of PT Pertamina.
After the tender was conditioned, PES, assisted by company YR, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the supply of refinery products for 2012 to 2014.
Syarief revealed that this tender process caused a longer supply chain and higher prices, particularly for gasoline 88 or premium and gasoline 92, thereby causing losses to PT Pertamina.
Currently, the value of state losses in this case is being calculated by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).
Seven suspects have been named in this case, namely:
Mohammad Riza Chalid (MRC) as the beneficial owner of Gold Manor, VeritaOil, and Global Energy Resources (GER). Currently, Riza is on Interpol’s Red Notice (RNI) as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of crude oil and refinery product governance at PT Pertamina Subholding and Contractors of the Cooperation Contract (KKKS) from 2018–2023.
IRW as a private party or director of companies owned by Riza Chalid.
BBG as Manager of Marketing and Trading Directorate of PT Pertamina and last position as Managing Director of Pertamina Energy Service (PES).
AGS as Head of Trading at Pertamina Energy Services from 2012–2014.
MLY as Senior Trader at Pertamina Energy Services Pte Ltd from 2009–2015.
NRD as Crude Trading Manager at Pertamina Energy Services Pte Ltd.
TFK as former Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) of PT Pertamina with the last position as President Director of PT Pertamina International Shipping.
The suspects are charged under Article 603 of the National Criminal Code subsidiary to Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption.