Seven Individuals Named as Suspects in Petral Corruption Case, Riza Chalid Implicated

Jakarta – The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has officially designated seven individuals as suspects in the alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of crude oil at Pertamina Energy Trading Limited (Petral) during the period 2008–2015.

Surprisingly, one of the names implicated is that of prominent businessman Riza Chalid. The Director of Investigation for the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) at the AGO, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, confirmed that this designation is not without basis. Investigators, he said, have obtained sufficient evidence.

“The investigation team from the Attorney General’s Office for special criminal acts has designated seven individuals as suspects,” he stated on Thursday, 9 April 2026.

The case stems from allegations of the leakage of internal confidential information from PT Petral regarding oil procurement needs. This sensitive information is suspected to have been exploited to “rig the game” in the tender process.

In the case’s framework, Riza Chalid is said to have played a key role as the beneficial owner of several companies involved in the business vortex.

“MRC, as the BO of several companies, along with suspect IRW through his companies or affiliated companies, has influenced the procurement or tender process,” he explained.

It is from here that the alleged unhealthy practices began. The procurement process is said not to have proceeded normally but was conditioned to extend the distribution chain and make prices higher. As a result, the state has had to bear a substantial burden.

“The tender or procurement process for crude oil and refinery products caused a longer supply chain and higher prices, particularly for Gasoline 88 or what we know as Premium 88 and Gasoline 92, thereby resulting in losses for PT Pertamina,” he said.

In addition to Riza Chalid, investigators have also designated several other parties: BBG, as Manager of Marketing and Trading at the Marketing and Trading Directorate of PT Pertamina and last position as Managing Director of Pertamina Energy Service (PES); AGS, as Head of Trading at Pertamina Energy Services (2012-2014); MLY, as Senior Trader at Pertamina Energy Services Pte Ltd (2009-2015); NRD, as Crude Trading Manager at PES; TFK, as VP ISC at PT Pertamina with the last position as President Director of PT Pertamina International Shipping; and IRW, as director of companies owned by MRC.