Fifteen legal experts from various universities have concluded that the alleged corruption at PT Pertamina is not a criminal act but purely business relations. This conclusion stems from an examination session held by the Faculty of Law at Universitas Wahid Hasyim in Jakarta on March 11, 2026. The experts emphasized that decisions on renting fuel terminals and ships are normal business processes.
An examination session held by the Faculty of Law at Universitas Wahid Hasyim in the Kuningan area of Jakarta on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, involved 15 legal experts from various universities. They analyzed the court decision regarding the alleged criminal corruption in the management of crude oil and refinery products at PT Pertamina (Persero), its Sub Holding, and Contract Work Cooperation Contractors (KKKS) for the period 2018-2023.
The experts, including Prof. Dr. Eva Achjani Zulfa from Universitas Indonesia and Prof. Dr. Tongat from Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, concluded that the case is purely business relations. Specifically, the rental of ships from PT Jenggala Maritim Nusantara (PT JMN) by PT Pertamina International Shipping (PT PIS) and the rental of the Fuel Terminal from PT Orbit Terminal Merak (PT OTM) by PT Pertamina (novated to PT Pertamina Patra Niaga) do not constitute corruption as per Article 603 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP).
Criminal law expert Chairul Huda from Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta deemed it illogical for Pertamina, as a large corporation, to be pressured by one individual to rent the Merak fuel terminal. "Pertamina is a large company that has systems in agreeing to legal relations with other parties," he said. He added that Pertamina has national and international business networks, such as purchasing crude oil from abroad, making pressure from one party unreasonable.
Chairul also noted that business pressures come from various sources, including the government and parliament. "Pressure from the government, pressure from, for example, parliament. Pressure from other business partners," he stated. The analysis covered the indictment, prosecution, defense, and court decision transcripts related to defendants Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, Dimas Werhaspati, and Gading Ramadhan Joedo.
