Former Pertamina Gas Director Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison in LNG Corruption Case

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Hari Karyuliarto, Director of Gas at PT Pertamina (Persero) from 2012 to 2014, has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison after being found guilty of involvement in criminal corruption related to the procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Presiding Judge Suwandi, during the verdict reading at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday, stated that the defendant was proven guilty as per the public prosecutor’s indictment.

“The defendant is legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing corruption offences jointly and continuously,” the judge said.

The panel of judges assessed that Hari’s actions included failing to prepare guidelines in the LNG procurement process from international sources and still proceeding with LNG procurement from Cheniere Energy Inc. 

The judge stated that Yenni was proven to have proposed the signing of a circular board of directors’ meeting minutes regarding the LNG Train 1 and Train 2 sales and purchase agreement from Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC (CCL) without supporting economic feasibility studies, risk analysis, and without certainty of bound buyers under contract.

In addition to the prison sentence, both defendants were also imposed fines of Rp200 million each, subsidiary to 80 days’ imprisonment.

As a result of their actions, the state suffered a loss of 113.84 million US dollars, equivalent to approximately Rp1.77 trillion.

In its considerations, the panel of judges stated that the aggravating factor was that the defendants’ actions did not support the government’s programme in eradicating corruption.

“The mitigating circumstances include that the defendants are over 60 years old and have never been convicted before,” said the Presiding Judge.

The verdict is lighter than the prosecutors’ demands. Previously, Hari was demanded six years and six months in prison, while Yenni was demanded five years and six months in prison in the case of LNG procurement from Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC at Pertamina and related institutions from 2011 to 2021.

The amount of the fine demanded remains the same, namely Rp200 million each, subsidiary to 80 days’ imprisonment.