Feeling Victim, Former President Director Of PT Pertamina Karen Agustiawan Sends An Open Letter To Jokowi

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

JAKARTA - Former President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Karen Agustiawan wrote an open letter to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Monday, September 25. He admitted that he was disappointed with the law enforcement system in the country and felt that he was a victim.

"I wrote this open letter out of concern for the law enforcement system in Indonesia," Karen wrote in the open letter.

"There are rubber articles that are multi-interpretative so that law enforcement is misinterpreted which causes business losses in SOEs to be used as the basis for law enforcement officers (APH) as a criminal act of corruption (tipikor). I am one of the victims," he continued.

Karen admitted that she was surprised by the determination of the suspect in the alleged procurement of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on June 8 and was detained on September 19.

"Because the contracts signed in 2013 and 2014 by Pertamina have been canceled and replaced with new contracts in the era of Mr. President Jokowi, namely on March 20, 2015," he said.

At that time, Karen continued, he was no longer the President Director of PT Pertamina. So, he questioned the reason the anti-corruption commission named him a suspect.

"On this basis, I ask for the attention of the President and all relevant parties to ensure that this legal process is carried out in accordance with the correct law enforcement system," said Karen.

Do not let certain parties cause greater state losses.

"Allow me to raise the issue above once again as a going concern regarding the realization of the energy resilience of this country," he said.

"This open letter is a moral and legal obligation for me to provide a clear explanation to the President and the people of Indonesia," added Karen.

This letter was copied to a number of officials. Among them, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Minister of SOEs, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Minister of Finance, the Chairman of Commission III of the DPR RI, the Chairman of Commission VI DPR RI, and the Chairman of Commission VII DPR RI.

As previously reported, Karen claimed that the board of directors of the state-owned company knew about the procurement of LNG. He denied playing alone like accusations by the KPK.

"It has been approved by all directors collectively collegially and legally because it wants to continue what is stated in the national strategic project," Karen told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, September 19.

Not only that, Karen also mentioned that three consultants were involved. "There was a due diligence (review to find facts)," he said.

In addition, he ensured that the government was aware of this procurement process. In fact, Dahlan Iskan, the Minister of SOEs for the 2011-2014 period, knew and agreed.

"Pak Dahlan knows, because Mr. Dahlan is in charge," concluded Karen.