Former Pertamina Director: Ahok's Testimony Unveils LNG Corruption Case
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Hari Karyuliarto, Pertamina’s Gas Director from 2012–2014, believes the testimony of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), who served as Pertamina’s chief commissioner from 2019–2024, has unveiled an alleged LNG procurement corruption case.
According to Hari, Ahok’s testimony during the court proceedings stated that Pertamina had benefited from the transaction.
“It has at least opened up the matter somewhat. Most importantly, there was no state loss since Pertamina’s profit was confirmed when I was asked about MSRKAP (Corporate Performance Monitoring, Plans and Budget),” Hari stated after the hearing at the Corruption Crimes Court in Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.
Should Pertamina have profited, Hari argued, there could be no state financial loss. Under both the old and new Criminal Code (KUHP), he noted, corruption cases must be based on demonstrable and quantifiable state losses.
Furthermore, he added, the LNG procurement contract from Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC (CCL) will only be completed in 2039.
“Let us wait until 2039 if this is to be counted as state loss,” he said.
On the same occasion, Hari’s lawyer, Wa Ode Nur Zainab, expressed hope that following Ahok’s testimony, Pertamina’s former chief executive Nicke Widyawati (2018–2024) would also appear to testify in the proceedings.
She believed Nicke’s testimony could reveal negotiations to reach an agreement between Pertamina and Trafigura Group Pte Ltd for the sale of LNG purchased from Corpus Christi.
“This is perfectly clear as it has already been revealed in the proceedings,” said Wa Ode.
Hari is a defendant in an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of LNG from Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC at PT Pertamina and other related institutions between 2011 and 2021.
The case also involves Yenni Andayani, Vice President for Strategic Planning and Business Development in Pertamina’s Gas Directorate from 2012–2013, as a co-defendant.
Both defendants are alleged to have caused state financial losses of USD 113.84 million (approximately IDR 1.77 trillion) through actions that enriched Pertamina’s chief executive from 2009–2014, Galaila Karen Kardinah (also known as Karen Agustiawan), by IDR 1.09 billion and USD 104,016, and enriched CCL by USD 113.84 million.
The alleged unlawful acts attributed to both defendants include Hari’s failure to establish guidelines for international LNG procurement and his continued processing of LNG procurement from Cheniere Energy Inc., whilst Yenni allegedly proposed that Hari sign a Circular Board of Directors Resolution regarding the decision to sign an LNG purchase agreement for Train 1 and Train 2 from CCL without supporting economic analysis, risk assessments, mitigation measures, and without securing a buyer for the CCL LNG under a binding agreement.
These actions are governed and punishable under Article 2(1) or Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on Combating Corruption, as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001, together with Article 55(1) and Article 64(1) of the Criminal Code.