Indonesian court delivers verdicts in corruption cases linked to Pertamina, the state energy company

On Thursday, an Indonesian court will deliver its verdict on nine people who are accused of illegally importing crude oil, leasing a fuel terminal and other actions which caused the state to lose 285 trillion Rupiah (US$17 billion). The defendants include former chief executives of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Pertamina International Shipping and Pertamina International Shipping - subsidiaries of the state energy firm Pertamina - and a beneficial owner of a fuel station operator.

This is one of many major prosecutions that have been launched by the administration of President Prabowo, who has pledged to eliminate corruption.

The prosecution said that the alleged activities took place between 2018-2023, and demanded prison sentences of 14-18 years for the defendants.

Local media reported Riva Siahaan and Yoki Firnandi as former chief executives of Pertamina International Shipping and Pertamina International Shipping respectively. They both rejected the allegations against them, and pleaded not guilty in court.

Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza is a beneficial owner who leases a fuel station to Pertamina. He also denied the charges and pleaded guilty in his statement of plea.

(source: Reuters)