Hari Karyuliarto: Ahok's Testimony is Important to Explain the 'Mystery' of LNG Procurement
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Former Director of Gas at PT Pertamina (Persero) for the period 2012-2014, Hari Karyuliarto, believes that the testimony of the former Commissioner of Pertamina for the period 2019–2024, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, is important to explain the “mystery” of LNG procurement.
According to him, an explanation is needed regarding the conditions of LNG procurement when Ahok and the Director of Pertamina for the period 2018–2024, Nicke Widyawati, were in office, which led to the involvement of law enforcement officials.
“In the end, as Pak Dahlan said, ‘two elephants fighting, the elephant in the middle suffers,’” said Hari when met after the hearing at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Thursday.
Therefore, he invited Ahok to be a witness in the trial of the alleged corruption case in the procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
On the other hand, he said that the facts of the trial have stated that the Corpus Christi contract from 2013 to 2030 was beneficial.
Hari’s legal counsel, Wa Ode Nur Zainab, added that according to the testimony of the Director of PT Pertamina for the period 2009-2014, Galaila Karen, in the trial, the LNG procurement did not use funds from the State Budget (APBN).
She said that State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have their own profits and financial management to support their operations and needs.
Moreover, she said, referring to the latest SOE financial regulations, which have never been revealed in court, it clearly states that SOE finances are not state finances.
“So, the budget within SOEs, including Pertamina, is the SOE’s own budget, it has nothing to do with the APBN. An expert can explain that later,” said Wa Ode on the same occasion.
The case also involves Vice President of Strategic Planning Business Development of the Gas Directorate of Pertamina for the period 2012-2013, Yenni Andayani, as a defendant.
Both defendants are suspected of causing state financial losses amounting to 113.84 million US dollars or equivalent to Rp1.77 trillion due to unlawful acts that enriched the Director of PT Pertamina for the period 2009-2014, Galaila Karen Kardinah, also known as Karen Agustiawan, by Rp1.09 billion and 104,016 US dollars, and enriched CCL by 113.84 million US dollars.
The unlawful acts committed by both defendants are that Hari is suspected of not preparing guidelines for the LNG procurement process from international sources and still processing the LNG procurement from Cheniere Energy Inc.
Meanwhile, Yenni proposed that Hari sign the Minutes of the Circular Board of Directors Meeting regarding the decision on the signing of the LNG sales and purchase agreement for Train 1 and Train 2 from CCL without being supported by economic feasibility studies, risk studies, and mitigation in the LNG CCL procurement process, and without LNG CCL buyers being bound by an agreement.
Thus, the actions of both defendants are regulated and subject to criminal penalties under Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) point 1 and Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.