Riva Siahaan Delivers Defence Plea in Crude Oil Corruption Case, Cites Record Profits
Former president director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga (PT PPN) Riva Siahaan delivered his defence plea (pleidoi) in the trial concerning crude oil governance that allegedly caused Rp 285 trillion in state losses. Among the key points raised in his plea was that PT PPN achieved its highest profit in the company’s history during his tenure.
Siahaan read out his plea at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday (19 February 2026). He stated that during his time at Pertamina Patra Niaga, the company recorded revenue of approximately USD 70 billion per year with profitability of USD 1.3–1.6 billion annually.
“In 2022, the Central Marketing and Trading Directorate that I led contributed the highest profit to the company, amounting to USD 1.4 billion,” Siahaan said whilst reading his plea.
“And in 2023, when I was assigned as president director, Pertamina Patra Niaga recorded a profit of USD 1.639 billion, which represents the highest profit achievement in the company’s history,” he continued.
He said 80 per cent of that profit was contributed by the Central Marketing and Trading Directorate through sales of non-subsidised fuel to corporate customers. He noted that this achievement was acknowledged by witnesses, including expert witnesses presented by the prosecution.
“Pertamina Patra Niaga became the number one revenue contributor and number two profit contributor within the Pertamina group. All of this performance was comprehensively audited by external auditors and state institutions,” Siahaan said.
He also explained that during his time as a director — both as president director and director of Central Marketing and Trading — Pertamina Patra Niaga, through PT Pertamina Persero, contributed dividends to the state: Rp 1.76 trillion in 2022, Rp 11 trillion in 2023, and Rp 7 trillion in 2024.
Siahaan further noted that as director and president director of Pertamina Patra Niaga, he implemented government-mandated programmes including the construction of single-price fuel stations in remote, border, and underdeveloped (3T) areas. In 2023, he said 89 locations were completed, followed by 71 locations the following year across Indonesia.
“In addition, there were 416 fishermen’s fuel station locations to assist fishermen and drive the economy in the fisheries sector, which forms part of the primary sector of economic activity,” he said.
Siahaan then addressed the stark contrast between the charges against him and public perception. He said that before the trial began, he had already faced accusations in the media with various allegations.
“All the drama and scenarios — accusations of conspiring with other suspects that could not be proven during the examination of facts in this trial — alleged state losses of Rp 193 trillion. This was then inflated in the media for the period 2018 to 2023 to a figure of Rp 1,000 trillion,” Siahaan said.
“These accusations were so massive that they effectively convicted me and my beloved family before the court even examined the case,” he added.
Siahaan acknowledged being repeatedly questioned about the figure of Muhammad Riza Chalid. He claimed he did not know Riza Chalid at all.
“Although I have repeatedly stated that I do not know him, have never met him, and have never even seen him, is this an attempt to criminalise me?” he said.
Siahaan also addressed the charges that he approved the winner of refinery product or fuel procurement that had followed proper procedures. Additionally, he was charged with approving and signing sales agreements for non-subsidised diesel to mining companies below the bottom price.
“This is actually a cost prediction reference used in price setting, which falls within my duties and authority in accordance with company regulations,” Siahaan said.
He also addressed the charge that he failed to establish sales guidelines and price negotiation protocols. In that indictment, he was accused of causing state losses of USD 5,740,532.61 for refinery product procurement.
“Meanwhile, for sales at low prices during the 2021–2023 period, the alleged loss is Rp 2,544,277,386,935. These accusations are vastly different from what actually occurred. During my tenure, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Subholding Commercial and Trading was the number one revenue contributor at Pertamina and the number two profit contributor. This stands in stark contradiction to the alleged losses being claimed, for which no legally valid calculation of evidence has been presented to date,” he concluded.
Siahaan faces a demand of 14 years’ imprisonment from prosecutors. The prosecution stated that Siahaan was guilty of committing corruption jointly in the crude oil governance case that caused Rp 285 trillion in state losses.
“The court declares defendant Riva Siahaan legally and convincingly proven guilty of jointly committing the criminal act of corruption,” the prosecutor said whilst reading the indictment at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday (13 February).
“The court sentences defendant Riva Siahaan to 14 years’ imprisonment, reduced by the period already served in detention, with an order that the defendant remain in state detention,” the prosecutor added.
Prosecutors demanded Siahaan pay a fine of Rp 1 billion, with a subsidiary of 190 days’ imprisonment in default. In addition, Siahaan was ordered to pay Rp 5 billion in restitution.
The prosecution stated that Siahaan’s assets could be seized and auctioned to cover the restitution amount. Should these prove insufficient, the shortfall would be substituted with seven years’ imprisonment.