JK Values Indictment Of State Losses Former President Director Of Pertamina Purely A Business Problem

The 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla or JK were met at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor), Thursday (16/05/2024). (ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria)

JAKARTA - Vice President (Vice President) 10th and 12th Jusuf Kalla or JK assessed that the state loss charges filed with former President Director (Managing Director) of PT Pertamina (Persero) Karen Agustiawan were purely a business problem.

"Fortunately, it's normal to lose. If everyone has to make a profit, it's not a business name," said JK when met at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor), Thursday, May 16, which was confiscated by Antara.

Thus, he said that if a leader or president director makes a policy, it does not include a criminal act. However, he emphasized that the move was carried out by not benefiting himself.

JK argues that in a business step, there are only two possibilities that will occur, namely profit or loss. If all companies that lose money must be punished, then all state-owned enterprises (BUMN) must be punished and will destroy the system.

He said that Karen's policy of procuring liquefied natural gas (LNG) was prepared by her government, where the policy was long-term.

For this reason, he continued, the government must balance the needs and supplies of LNG, so that it requires additional procurement from abroad, especially because Indonesia also exports LNG.

"It only costs two years, right, why should two years be charged? It must be in the long term," he asserted.

Previously, Galaila Karen Kardinah alias Karen Agustiawan was charged with causing state losses of 113.84 million United States (US) dollars or equivalent to Rp1.77 trillion due to alleged corruption in LNG procurement at Pertamina in 2011-2014.

The former President Director of PT Pertamina was charged with enriching himself by Rp1.09 billion and 104,016 US dollars or equivalent to Rp1.62 billion, and enriching a corporation, namely the US company, Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC (CCL) for 113.84 million US dollars or equivalent to Rp1.77 trillion, which resulted in state financial losses.

In addition, Karen was also charged with granting approval for gas business development at several potential LNG refineries in the US without any clear procurement guidelines and only granting principle permits without the support of basic justification, technical and economic analysis, as well as risk analysis.

Karen is also said to have not asked for a written response to the Pertamina Board of Commissioners and approval of the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS) before the signing of the LNG CCL Train 1 and Train 2 purchase agreement, as well as granting power to Yenni Andayani as Senior Vice President (SVP) of Gas and Power Pertamina 2013-2014 and Hari Karyuliarto as Director of Gas Pertamina 2012-2014.

Both were authorized to sign the LNG SPA (Sales and Purchase Agreement) for CCL Train 1 and Train 2, although not all Pertamina Directors signed the Risalah Board of Directors (RRD) for the LNG SPA CCL Train 1 and without the approval of the board of directors for the LNG SPA CCL Train 2.

For this reason, Karen was charged with committing acts that were regulated and threatened with crime in Article 2 paragraph (1) and Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code jo. Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.