Former Pertamina President Director Karen Agustiawan Will Soon Be Tried

Former Pertamina President Director Karen Agustiawan/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Karen Agustiawan will soon be tried in connection with allegations of corruption in the procurement of liquid natural gas (LNG). The investigation process has been completed and the case file has been submitted to the prosecutor's team.

"The investigative team on Tuesday, January 16 has finished handing over the suspect and evidence with the suspect GKK to the prosecutor's team," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters in a written statement, Wednesday, January 17.

Ali ensured that the evidence collected had been completed and fulfilled the elements of the article on state losses. Furthermore, the prosecutor has 14 working days to prepare the indictment.

"Detention is still being carried out for the next 20 days at the KPK Detention Center," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK suspected that the LNG procurement process as an alternative to overcoming gas shortages in the country was not studied. Karen Agustiawan, who at that time served as President Director of PT Pertamina, also did not report his decision to the board of commissioners.

"GKK alias KA unilaterally immediately decided to enter into an agreement contract with the company CCL (Corpus Christi Liquefaction) of the United States LLC without conducting a thorough study and analysis and not reporting to the Board of Commissioners of PT Pertamina Persero," said Firli Bahuri while still serving as Chairman of the KPK at a press conference at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, September 19.

Firli revealed that the report should have been made because it would be brought to the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS). "So that the actions of GKK alias KA did not get approval and approval from the government at that time," he said.

Because of his actions, Karen made the state lose around 140 million US dollars or Rp. 2.1 trillion. The reason is that LNG's cargo purchased from the CCL company of the United States LLC is not absorbed in the domestic market.

As a result, oversupply cargo, PT Pertamina finally made sales in the international market with a loss condition. In fact, this commodity has never entered Indonesia and was used as originally intended.