Jakarta High Court urged to acquit Kerry Riza – reasons why

The University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Law’s Law Procedure and Judicial System Research Institute conducted a review of the Jakarta Corruption Court’s verdict in a case involving alleged corruption in crude oil and refinery product management, where the defendant is Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, beneficial owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa.

Based on the review, the institute concluded that the 15-year prison sentence imposed on Kerry Riza could be annulled by the court due to insufficient judicial reasoning in the ruling.

Flora Dianti, one of the examiners, stated during a dissemination event titled ‘Unravelling the Criminal Penalty Limits in Business Decisions’ organised by the University of Indonesia’s Law Procedure and Judicial System Research Institute at the UI campus in Depok on Tuesday, 26 May 2026: ‘Assume that this ruling does not uphold fair trial principles, thorough evidence examination, impartial judges, and equal opportunity – these are key points. Therefore, the ruling should be overturned.’

Following the event, Flora explained that the insufficient judicial reasoning could serve as grounds for Kerry Riza to appeal. She added that the inadequate reasoning could also provide grounds for the Jakarta High Court panel to annul the verdict and re-examine the case.

‘Indeed, under the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), the legal process guarantees avenues for appeal or cassation. Furthermore, if all facts have been considered or the judicial reasoning is insufficient, this can serve as grounds for filing an appeal or cassation, or for annulling the verdict so that the cassation judge can re-examine the case,’ she said.

Flora also noted that with these grounds, government intervention through pardon or rehabilitation of Kerry Riza is not impossible. ‘Whether intervention via pardon or rehabilitation is necessary,’ she added.