Dissenting Opinion: Judge Mulyono Defends Kerry, Son of Riza Chalid
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Judge Mulyono Dwi Purwanto stated his dissenting opinion regarding the verdict for the defendant, Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, and others, who are also beneficial owners of PT Orbit Terminal Merak (PT OTM) and PT Jenggala Maritim Nusantara (PT JMN).
According to Judge Mulyono, Kerry did not have malicious intent when leasing his Merak fuel terminal to PT Pertamina.
“In this case, there was no malicious intent, nor participation in a malicious act, other than simply offering a business cooperation for the lease of the tank, without any meetings to arrange or condition Pertamina to accept or be forced to accept the cooperation,” said Judge Mulyono during the hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Friday (February 27, 2026).
Mulyono disagreed with the indictment and the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU), which stated that the procurement of the fuel terminal lease came from pressure from Kerry’s father, Mohamad Riza Chalid, to high-ranking officials at Pertamina, namely the Director of Marketing and Trading of PT Pertamina Persero for the period April 2012-2014, Hanung Budya Yuktyanta.
“According to the panel member, it was not a situation that forced someone to do something. But, it was only a psychological condition that made them feel pressured,” said Mulyono.
He assessed that Hanung could have refused or avoided Riza Chalid’s request if he had wanted to.
Furthermore, Kerry and his company were considered to have played a passive role in establishing cooperation with PT Pertamina.
“The management of PT OTM did not commit an act that violated the law by actively, for example, bribing the directors or officials of Pertamina to do what they wanted, to carry out the cooperation,” added Mulyono.
He assessed that Kerry’s fuel terminal had provided benefits and advantages for Indonesia.
“Until now, the tanks of PT OTM are still being used and have provided extraordinary benefits and advantages for PT Pertamina and the nation, Indonesia,” he said.
For Mulyono, it would be unfair if Kerry was ordered to return IDR 2.9 trillion in this case.
According to him, the money was legitimate income from the lease of the terminal.
“The panel member believes that it would be unfair if the defendants from the management of PT OTM were convicted and ordered to return the business revenue of IDR 2.9 trillion, for the cooperation that has been carried out with Pertamina during the contract period,” he said.