The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has recently uncovered a major corruption case involving the management of crude oil at PT Pertamina Patra Niaga from 2018 to 2023, resulting in a staggering loss of Rp193.7 trillion for the state. Two new suspects have been identified in this scandal: Maya Kusmaya, the Director of Marketing Center and Trade at PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, and Edward Cone, the Vice President of Trading Operations at the same company.
Unveiling New Facts
During the investigation, the AGO revealed intriguing details about the roles played by Maya and Edward in this illicit scheme. Abdul Qohar, the Director of Investigation at the AGO, disclosed that Maya and Edward were involved in purchasing RON 90 octane (Pertalite) fuel, or lower octane products, at the price of RON 92 octane (Pertamax) following instructions from Riva Siahaan, who was the Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga and is now also a suspect in the case.
Qohar stated in a press conference at the AGO building in Jakarta on Wednesday (2/27/2025), “Suspects MK and EC, with the approval of suspect RS, made purchases of RON 90 or lower octane products at the price of RON 92.” This manipulation led to high-priced imports of refinery products that did not meet the required quality standards, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Additionally, Maya instructed Edward to carry out blending operations using RON 88 (Premium) and RON 92 (Pertamax) fuels. The blending process took place at the PT Orbit Terminal Merak, where Muhammad Keery Andrianto Riza and Gading Ramadan Joede, the owners of the terminal, have also been implicated as suspects in the case.
Questionable Business Practices
Qohar emphasized that this type of business model was not only inappropriate but also illegal. Maya and Edward were found to be making high-priced imports of refinery products that should have been selected through a long-term term agreement process. However, instead of following the correct procedures, Maya and Edward’s actions forced PT Patra Niaga to import crude oil at inflated prices, causing significant financial harm.
In conclusion, the AGO’s investigation into the corruption scandal involving PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has highlighted the critical need for transparency and accountability in Indonesia’s energy sector. The alleged actions of Maya Kusmaya, Edward Cone, and other suspects have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the country’s oil management system. As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how justice will be served and what reforms will be implemented to prevent such egregious misconduct in the future.
