Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Indonesian authorities are expanding their search for reclusive oil tycoon Muhammad Riza Chalid after Singapore denied that the fugitive businessman is in its territory, forcing prosecutors to turn to neighboring countries in a bid to track him down.
The Attorney General's Office has named Riza a suspect in a massive corruption case linked to crude oil procurement and fuel trading at state-owned energy giant Pertamina between 2018 and 2023. Prosecutors allege the scandal cost the state around Rp 285 trillion ($17.5 billion), marking one of Indonesia's largest corruption cases in recent history.
The Attorney General's Office has also issued an arrest warrant for Riza after he repeatedly ignored three summonses for questioning by investigators.
"Our checks confirm that he is not in Singapore, so we will now seek information from other neighboring countries," the office's spokesman, Anang Supriatna, told reporters on Thursday.Anang said Indonesia appreciated Singapore's transparency in providing immigration information, adding that the office remains open to any new leads on the businessman's whereabouts.
"If there is credible information about his location, we will follow up and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Anang said.
Investigators are currently preparing a formal summons for Riza to appear as a suspect, although a specific date has not been set. The summons will be sent to the address registered under his name in Indonesia, Anang added.
"We hope that he will cooperate and show up as a responsible citizen," he said.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Riza has not been in Singapore "for some time" based on immigration records. However, the city-state said it remains committed to assisting Indonesia in tracking down the fugitive, in line with its legal obligations.
Riza is among nine new suspects named in the ongoing investigation into Pertamina's fuel trading practices, a scandal that has shaken confidence in Indonesia's state energy sector and raised questions about corporate governance and transparency at the company.
Prosecutors allege that Riza colluded with Pertamina officials to secure lucrative fuel terminal rental contracts at the Merak port through two of his companies, Tangki Merak and Orbit Terminal Merak. The contracts reportedly violated Pertamina's internal governance rules and were awarded despite the company having no immediate need for additional storage.