Former President Director Of PT Pertamina Karen Agustiawan, Suspect Of LNG Corruption, Becomes A KPK Prisoner

Former President Director (Managing Director) of PT Pertamina (Persero) Karen Agustiawan has been detained by the KPK/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former President Director (Director) of PT Pertamina (Persero) Karen Agustiawan was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He became a suspect in alleged corruption in the procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at PT Pertamina (Persero) from 2011 to 2021.

"The investigative team detained the suspect GKK alias KA for the first 20 days," said KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, September 19.

Firli said this case originated from a public report. Furthermore, the investigation was carried out until it finally went up to investigation after sufficient evidence was found.

Firli revealed that Karen's decision to procure LNG was taken by herself. "Without conducting a study to a thorough analysis and not reporting it to the Board of Commissioners of PT Pertamina Persero," he said.

KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri in a press conference on the case of former President Director (Managing Director) of PT Pertamina (Persero) Karen Agustiawan / PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

In this case, state losses occurred after PT Pertamina sold LNG cargo in the international market on behalf of PT Pertamina (Persero) with a loss. This process began because purchases from US CCL LLC companies were not absorbed in the domestic market.

This incident resulted in LNG's cargo being oversupply and never entering Indonesian territory. "From GKK's actions, aka KA caused and resulted in state financial losses of around US$ 140 million which was equivalent to Rp. 2.1 trillion," said Firli.

As a result of his actions, Karen was suspected of violating Article 2ayat (1) or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.