Riza Chalid's Son Kerry Ordered to Pay Rp13.4 Trillion in Compensation

The Jakarta High Court has increased the additional criminal penalty of compensation money against Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, the son of businessman Riza Chalid. Kerry is now required to pay compensation amounting to Rp13.4 trillion, a drastic increase from the previous ruling of only Rp2.9 trillion. Presiding Judge Budi Susilo stated that the increase in the compensation value was based on the calculation of state economic losses that must be borne by the defendant, totalling Rp10.5 trillion. The verdict was read out in an appeal hearing at the Jakarta High Court on Wednesday (10/6). “If the convict does not pay the compensation within a maximum period of one month after the court decision has obtained permanent legal force, then his assets can be confiscated by the prosecutor and auctioned to cover the compensation,” said Judge Budi Susilo while reading the ruling. The panel of judges also affirmed that if Kerry’s assets are insufficient to cover the compensation, it will be replaced with a prison sentence of 10 years. Meanwhile, for the principal sentence, the appellate court panel upheld the previous ruling, keeping the 15-year prison sentence for Kerry. Although the compensation payment was increased, the panel of judges decided to reduce the fine for the defendant. Kerry was now sentenced to a fine of Rp500 million, subsidiary to 140 days of confinement, lower than the first-instance verdict of Rp1 billion, subsidiary to 190 days. In its considerations, Kerry, as the beneficial owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa, was proven to have committed criminal acts of corruption in arranging the procurement of leases for three vessels owned by PT Jenggala Maritim Nusantara (JMN) and the lease activities of the Merak Fuel Oil Terminal. These actions were deemed to have enriched the defendant by Rp2.9 trillion and caused state financial losses of 2.73 billion United States dollars and Rp25.45 trillion. For his actions, Kerry was found guilty of violating Article 603 in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the National Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021.