Son of Indonesian Oil Tycoon Faces 18-Year Jail Demand in Pertamina Graft Case

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Prosecutors are seeking an 18-year prison sentence for Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, the son of oil tycoon Riza Chalid, over alleged corruption in the management of crude oil and refinery products at state energy firm PT Pertamina (Persero) and its subholdings between 2018 and 2023.

“Imposing a sentence of 18 years imprisonment on the defendant Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza,” a public prosecutor said while reading the charges at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Prosecutors are also demanding that Kerry pay a Rp1 billion (about US$60,000) fine. If unpaid, the fine would be replaced with 190 days in prison.

In addition, Kerry has been ordered to pay Rp13.4 trillion in compensation. If he fails to pay within one month after a final and binding verdict, his assets will be seized and auctioned. Should the proceeds fall short, he would face an additional 10 years in prison.

Two other defendants, Gading Ramadhan Joedo, a commissioner of PT Jenggala Maritim and director of PT Tangki Merak, and Dimas Werhaspati, a commissioner of PT Orbit Terminal Merak, are each facing 16-year prison terms. Prosecutors are also seeking Rp1 billion fines for both men, with 190 days’ imprisonment as a substitute penalty.

Gading has been ordered to pay Rp1.17 trillion in compensation, consisting of Rp 176.39 billion in state financial losses and Rp1 trillion in broader economic losses. Failure to pay would result in an additional eight-year prison term.

Dimas is required to pay US$11.09 million for state financial losses and Rp1 trillion for economic losses. If unpaid, he would also face an additional eight years in prison.

Kerry, Dimas Werhaspati, and another defendant, Indra Putra, are charged under Article 603 paragraph (c) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 18 of Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Law.

Case Background

According to prosecutors, Kerry allegedly manipulated the formal procurement process for ship rentals. The vessel in question reportedly lacked an Oil Transport Business License.

In a separate terminal rental arrangement, Kerry is accused of facilitating a cooperation deal with his father, Riza Chalid, identified in the indictment as the beneficial owner of PT Tangki Merak and PT Orbit Terminal Merak.

Prosecutors allege that Riza and Kerry pressured Pertamina, through Gading, to lease a fuel terminal owned by PT Oiltanking Merak. The arrangement allegedly enabled the terminal to be used as collateral for bank loans by Riza.

“However, the cooperation in renting TBBM with PT OTM does not meet the procurement criteria that can be done through Direct Appointment,” the prosecutor said in an earlier indictment hearing on October 13, 2025.

Total state losses in the Pertamina corruption case are estimated at Rp285.18 trillion (around US$17 billion). This includes US$2.73 billion, equivalent to Rp45 trillion at an exchange rate of Rp16,500 per US dollar, and Rp25.43 trillion linked to the management of crude oil and refinery products.

Prosecutors also cited Rp171.99 trillion in losses stemming from inflated fuel procurement costs that burdened the national economy, as well as alleged illegal gains amounting to US$2.61 billion.

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