Irwan Prakoso Denies Pertamina's Intervention to Rent a Fuel Terminal Owned by Kerry Riza Chalid

JAKARTA - Entrepreneur Irawan Prakoso denies intervening in PT Pertamina (Persero) to rent the oil fuel (BBM) terminal owned by Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza.

Irawan's statement was made while testifying in the trial of alleged corruption in the management of oil and refinery products of PT Pertamina which ensnared the former President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Alfian Nasution and the former Marketing and Sales Director of Pertamina, Hanung Budya Yuktyanta. The trial was held at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday, March 31.

Irawan was then confirmed by the defendant's legal advisor, Aldres Napitupulu, regarding a number of points in the indictment. He is said to have been involved as a party who conveyed a message from Muhammad Riza Chalid regarding the rental of the fuel terminal owned by PT OTM.

"This is a charge like this, sir, is it true, sir, in 2012 as a trusted person, Muhammad Riza Chalid conveyed a message from Muhammad Riza Chalid for Pertamina Persero to use TBBM in Merak to Pak Hanung?" asked the defendant's lawyer, Aldres Napitupulu.

"Never, sir," Irawan replied firmly.

Irawan also denied ever offering or providing information related to the plan to take over the PT OTM fuel terminal to Hanung. Irawan's rebuttal was delivered after Aldres read the indictment letter which stated that Irawan met Hanung in March 2013. Aldres confirmed that the meeting discussed the PT OTM TBBM which was offered to Pertamina.

"There is more in the indictment, on page 29, Pak, he said in March 2013 you met again with Mr. Hanung, conveying information that there was a TBBM, belonging to Oil Tank Merak which would be sold and then you stated that the Merak tank would take over and offer it to Persero, Pertamina Persero which was responded by Mr. Hanung so that Mr. Irawan would enter his bid letter?" asked Aldres.

"No, never," he replied.

Irawan also denied ever urging Hanung to expedite or try to lease the OTM fuel terminal.

"Never," he said.

Regarding the meetings mentioned in the indictment, Irawan admitted that he had met Hanung. However, the meeting was in the context of silaturahmi or a regular meeting. Hanung emphasized that there was no discussion about cooperation on fuel terminals in the meeting.

"Pak's social gathering," said Irawan.

He also stated that he had never communicated with other parties regarding the use of the Merak TBBM facility or the payment issue by Pertamina.

"I never communicated with Mr. Suhartoko," he said.

Irawan also admitted that he did not know about the issue of Pertamina defaulting on paying the rent for the fuel terminal owned by PT OTM. Emphasized, Kerry Riza never told about it.

"Then, between 2014 and 2017, did Kerry or its director, Mr. Gading, ever contact you or did you know from somewhere that the use of the Merak TBBM facility had not been paid by Pertamina? so please help me to solve it or what?" asked Aldres.

"Oh no, never," Irawan replied.

"Did you know that from 2014 to 2017 Pertamina did not pay for the use of TBBM, was it ever told, sir?" said Aldres.

"I don't know," said Irawan.

Irawan emphasized that he had never pressured Hanung, Alfian, or other Pertamina parties regarding the rental of the fuel terminal owned by PT OTM. "Both on my own behalf or on behalf of Mr. Mohammad Riza Chalid or on behalf of OTM," he said after the trial was adjourned.

During the meeting with Hanung, Irawan never represented or conveyed Riza Chalid's message.

"So what I'm talking about is another business opportunity. That is, at that time I said in the trial that I wanted what it was called, I wanted to pioneer the bio-solar business. Although in the end the business did not happen. So actually it's uh, in principle," he said.

Irawan is not worried about the threat of the prosecutor who asked the panel of judges to appoint him as a suspect for giving false testimony at the trial. This entrepreneur feels that he is giving information in a true manner.

"Yes, if I, if I don't give false information, I give the actual information, yes, why should I be afraid? Yes? That's as simple as that," he said.

Finally, he also denied that the five units of cars seized by the Attorney General's Office belonged to Riza Chalid. Irawan said the vehicle belonged to him.

"The cars are the result of my hard work, the result of my own sweat, right? There is no connection at all with uh, Mohammad Riza Chalid. That's it. So hopefully the car can be returned to me," he concluded.