Prosecutors Urge Court to Reject Defence Plea from Fugitive Riza Chalid's Son in Crude Oil Corruption Case

Prosecutors have asked the panel of judges to reject the defence plea of Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, the son of fugitive Riza Chalid, in a case of alleged corruption in crude oil governance. The prosecution has requested that the court accept all arguments set out in its rebuttal.

“[We request the panel of judges] reject the defence plea of both the defendant and the defendant’s legal counsel,” said prosecutor Triyana Setia Putra while reading the rebuttal at the Central Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Monday (23 February 2026).

Prosecutors asked the judges to accept the full contents of the indictment, namely imposing an 18-year prison sentence on Kerry. The prosecution argued that Kerry had conflated information from outside the trial proceedings with the indictment.

“Accept all criminal charges as set out in the indictment submitted by the public prosecutors,” he said.

The prosecution stated that the indictment had been prepared meticulously, clearly, and comprehensively. Prosecutors said Kerry had conspired with other defendants in arranging the procurement of leases for three vessels belonging to PT Jenggala Maritim Nusantara (PT JMN).

“The indictment meticulously, clearly, and comprehensively describes the defendant’s acts of conspiracy in arranging the procurement of leases for three vessels belonging to PT JMN, as well as conspiracy in the fuel terminal lease cooperation involving PT OTM, carried out together with Dimas, Gading, and Riza Chalid, among others,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecution stated that the series of alleged acts committed by Kerry had also been detailed in the indictment. Prosecutors asked the panel of judges to set aside Kerry’s defence arguments.

“The defendant’s acts have been constructed in our indictment as acts inseparable from the irregularities in crude oil and refinery product governance at PT Pertamina and the production-sharing contract subholding, and therefore the defence objections should rightly be set aside and rejected,” the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors also responded to Kerry’s defence arguments claiming there was no evidence of orders, intervention, flow of funds, or criminal intent from Kerry, and that there were economic benefits from the vessel lease procurement. The prosecution deemed these arguments to be Kerry’s subjective assertions.

“The defendant’s statements constitute a subjective assessment by a defendant made in an effort to defend himself, so it is natural that the defendant would activate and deny all lawful evidence that has been proven and presented at trial,” the prosecutor said.

“Despite the fact that in the indictment, the prosecution has described and proven the existence of criminal intent and the defendant’s acts in conspiring to arrange the procurement of leases for three vessels belonging to PT JMN, as well as conspiracy in the fuel terminal lease cooperation involving PT OTM,” the prosecutor added.

Sentencing Demand for Riza Chalid’s Son

Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, the son of fugitive Riza Chalid, faces a demand of 18 years in prison. Prosecutors declared Kerry guilty in the alleged corruption case involving crude oil governance.

“The defendant Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza has been proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing the criminal act of corruption carried out jointly,” the prosecutor said while reading the indictment at the Central Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Friday (13 February).

“Therefore, impose a prison sentence of 18 years upon the defendant Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza,” the prosecutor continued.

Prosecutors demanded Kerry pay a fine of Rp 1 billion, with a subsidiary sentence of 190 days’ imprisonment in lieu. Additionally, Kerry was ordered to pay restitution of Rp 13,405,420,003,854 (Rp 13.4 trillion).

“Order the defendant to pay restitution of Rp 13,405,420,003,854, comprising Rp 2,905,420,003,854 for losses to state finances and Rp 10.5 trillion for losses to the state economy,” the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors stated that Kerry’s assets could be seized and auctioned to cover the restitution. However, if insufficient, the shortfall would be substituted with 10 years’ imprisonment.

“In the event the defendant no longer has sufficient assets to pay the restitution, the defendant shall be sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecution argued that Kerry’s actions undermined the government’s programme for clean governance free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism. Prosecutors said Kerry’s actions had caused enormous losses to both state finances and the state economy.

Furthermore, prosecutors assessed that Kerry showed no remorse and did not regret his actions. The prosecution noted there was only one mitigating factor in Kerry’s case — that he had no prior criminal record.

Prosecutors maintained that Kerry Adrianto was guilty of violating Article 603 in conjunction with Article 20 paragraph C of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law.