PT OTM CEO Claims Still Asked to Sign Documents Despite Being Detained

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The President Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak (OTM), Gading Ramadhan Joedo, claims that he was still asked to sign operational documents for PT OTM even after being detained in a detention centre until he was convicted in the corruption case involving the governance of crude oil and refinery products at PT Pertamina Persero.

“While I was detained in the detention centre, (the prosecutors) brought several files of documents that I had to sign. Please note this. What I signed were operational activities,” Gading said during the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday (31/3/2026).

Gading spoke when examined as a witness for the case file of the defendant, the Director of Marketing and Trading at PT Pertamina Persero from April 2012-2014, Hanung Budya Yuktyanta, and former VP of Supply and Distribution at PT Pertamina (Persero), Alfian Nasution.

“I had to sign because I was still an active director,” Gading said.

When designated as a suspect in February 2025, Gading was handed over by the Attorney General’s Office to be detained at the KPK Detention Centre.

When asked to sign, Gading initially refused.

The reason was that the prosecution accused him of committing a criminal offence related to PT OTM.

Gading admitted he was worried that signing those documents would complicate his case further.

However, the prosecutors assured Gading to still sign the documents they brought.

“At that time, it was explained, (the prosecutors said) your position is a suspect, not necessarily guilty, not necessarily innocent. I accommodated it,” he said.

When this crude oil case entered the trial stage, Gading once again refused to sign operational documents for PT OTM.

But the prosecutors reassured him again.

“I signed all the documents for operations. Because salaries had to be paid, all the costs of field operational activities had to be paid. Because there are 300,000 kilolitres of Pertamina oil, Pertamina fuel every month that enters my terminal,” Gading explained.