Crude Oil Scandal Costs Rp193.7tn; Here Are 10 Corruption Cases That Drained Indonesia's Finances

Tempo
26 Feb

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) reported Rp193.7 trillion in state losses from alleged corruption in crude oil and refinery product management at PT Pertamina (Persero), its subholdings, and Cooperation Contract Contractors (KKKS) from 2018 to 2023. Losses stemmed from domestic crude oil exports, crude oil imports via brokers, fuel imports, compensation, and subsidies.

“The import of fuel oil (BBM) through brokers, as well as compensation payments and subsidies due to the resulting high oil prices,” said Abdul Qohar, Director of Investigations at the AGO’s Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), on Monday, February 24.

The scandal, involving four Pertamina subholding executives and three private sector figures, is among Indonesia’s biggest and most high-profile corruption cases.

From massive fraud to financial mismanagement, these are 10 cases that have inflicted major losses on Indonesia’s coffers:

  1. PT Timah Corruption (Rp300 trillion) – The AGO uncovered corruption in PT Timah Tbk’s tin commodity trade (2015-2022), involving 22 suspects, including Sandra Dewi’s husband and a "crazy rich" from PIK. State losses reached Rp300 trillion, including Rp271 trillion in ecological damage.
  2. Pertamina Crude Oil Management (Rp193.7 trillion) – Investigators found collusion between officials and brokers, with four Pertamina executives—including PT Pertamina Patra Niaga president director Riva Siahaan (RS)—and three private sector figures implicated. Losses included Rp35 trillion from crude oil exports, Rp2.7 trillion from crude imports via brokers, and Rp126 trillion from compensation in 2023.
  3. BLBI Scandal (Rp138.4 trillion) – The 1997-1998 Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) funds of Rp147.4 trillion intended to rescue banks were misappropriated. An audit in 2000 confirmed Rp138.4 trillion in state losses.
  4. Duta Palma Land Grab (Rp104.1 trillion) – The Duta Palma Group illegally used 37,095 hectares of state land for palm oil plantations (2003-2022), causing Rp104.1 trillion in losses. Group owner Surya Darmadi was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined Rp1 billion.
  5. TPPI Illegal Condensate Processing (Rp35 trillion) – PT Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indotama (TPPI), appointed to sell state-owned condensate (2009-2011), failed to deposit payments, causing US$2.7 billion (Rp35 trillion) in losses. Three high-ranking officials were charged.
  6. Asabri Pension Fund Corruption (Rp22.78 trillion) – The mismanagement of funds and investments in PT Asuransi Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (Asabri) in 2012-2019 led to Rp22.78 trillion in losses. Eight suspects were charged, including two already implicated in the Jiwasraya case.
  7. Palm Oil Export Permit Corruption (Rp20 trillion) – Corruption in crude palm oil (CPO) export permits (2021-2022) resulted in Rp20 trillion in losses. Five people, including a trade ministry official and executives from major palm oil firms, were charged.
  8. Jiwasraya Insurance Corruption (Rp16.8 trillion) – Fraud in investment management by PT Asuransi Jiwasraya (2008-2019) incurred Rp16.8 trillion in state losses. The case surfaced after Jiwasraya faced liquidity issues, with equity recorded at -Rp27.24 trillion by late 2019.
  9. Garuda Indonesia Aircraft Procurement (Rp8.8 trillion) – The 2011-2021 procurement of Bombardier CRJ-1000 and ATR 72-600 aircraft by flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk caused state losses of US$609.81 million (approx. Rp9.37 trillion) per the Jakarta Corruption Court and Rp8.8 trillion per the AGO’s calculation. Five individuals were named suspects, charged with procurement-related corruption.
  10. 4G BTS Tower Corruption (Rp8.32 trillion) – The Ministry of Communication’s 4G BTS project (2020-2022) suffered Rp8.32 trillion in losses due to substandard infrastructure. Only 86% of towers were built, with just 1,900 functioning.

Dian Rahma Fika and Jihan Ristiyanti contributed for this report.

Editor’s Choice: Pertamina Corruption Losses, AGO: Rp190 Trillion in Just One Year

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