Kerry Riza Faces 18 Years in Prison & Rp 13.4T Fine in Pertamina Corruption Case

Jakarta, Indonesia –

Prosecutors are seeking an 18-year prison sentence for Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, the son of Indonesian oil tycoon Mohammad Riza Chalid, in connection with a massive corruption case involving state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina. In addition to the lengthy prison term, prosecutors are demanding Rp 13.4 trillion (approximately $820 million USD) in restitution for losses incurred during the period of 2018-2023, according to reports from CNBC Indonesia.

The case centers around alleged irregularities in the management of crude oil and refinery products at Pertamina, its subsidiaries, and related cooperative contracts. Following the presentation of the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation, Kerry Riza maintained his innocence, stating he was not involved in the alleged scheme.

“As I have stated throughout the trial, all the witnesses presented have said that I was not involved in this case,” Riza said at the Jakarta Corruption Court, as reported by CNBC Indonesia. He appealed for fairness and expressed a desire for President Prabowo Subianto to review his case directly.

“I ask for justice for myself. I sincerely hope that in this situation, President Prabowo can look at my case clearly and objectively. He is a great and wise statesman who, I believe, does not want criminalization to occur in this country,” Riza stated.

The case has drawn significant attention in Indonesia, highlighting concerns about corruption within the country’s energy sector. Riza Chalid, Kerry’s father, has been identified as a key figure in the alleged scheme and is currently a fugitive from justice. Authorities believe he fled to Malaysia in February 2025, and Interpol has been requested to issue a red notice for his arrest, according to reporting from the Jakarta Globe.

The allegations against Kerry Riza involve leveraging his father’s reputation within Indonesia’s oil and gas industry to secure trust from business partners and banks. Prosecutors claim he promised long-term cooperation and arranged financing for the acquisition of a fuel storage facility in Merak in 2014. The prosecution alleges that Kerry, as the beneficial owner of Navigator Khatulistiwa, enriched himself by Rp 3.07 trillion ($187 million) and caused state losses of up to Rp 285.18 trillion ($17.5 billion) between 2018 and 2023, as detailed in the Jakarta Globe report.

The broader investigation, which has named at least 18 suspects, alleges that Riza Chalid colluded with Pertamina executives to manipulate crude procurement and lease agreements through his companies, Tangki Merak and Orbit Terminal Merak, bypassing standard vetting procedures. This case follows a Rp 193.7 trillion ($11 billion USD) graft case involving Pertamina subsidiaries that sparked public outcry, according to Windonesia.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has raided Riza Chalid’s home, confiscating cash, documents, and computers, but his whereabouts remain unknown. The AGO spokesperson, Harli Siregar, stated they are investigating the materials seized from Riza’s home to determine his involvement and role in the alleged corruption, as reported by Windonesia.

Riza Chalid’s long-standing influence in Indonesia’s oil business, dating back to the Soeharto era, and his political connections, including a Rp 500 billion donation to President Prabowo Subianto’s 2014 presidential campaign, have raised questions about the impartiality of the investigation, as noted by Windonesia.

The case is ongoing, and the outcome of Kerry Riza’s trial will likely have significant implications for the investigation into his father and the broader effort to combat corruption within Indonesia’s energy sector. According to Tempo, Riza Chalid was declared a suspect in July 2025, but investigators have yet to question him.