In a corruption trial at Jakarta's Tipikor Court, lawyers for Yoki Firnandi, former CEO of PT Pertamina International Shipping, asserted that their client was not involved in ship procurement or crude oil exports. Witnesses confirmed no intervention from Yoki, while the company achieved significant profits under his leadership. A related ship owner stated that Pertamina benefited greatly from below-market rental rates.
The continuation of the alleged corruption trial involving the management of crude oil and refinery products at PT Pertamina took place at the Jakarta Central Corruption Court on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The main focus was the role of Yoki Firnandi, former CEO of PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), in procuring three ships from PT Jenggala Maritim Nusantara (JMN) and exporting Banyu Urip crude oil.
Yoki's lawyer, Wimboyono Senoadji, emphasized that over seven hearings, witnesses—including those presented by prosecutors—stated that Yoki had no authority or role in the ship procurement process. "From the witnesses' testimonies, including those submitted by the prosecutors themselves, not a single one has stated any involvement, intervention, or direction from Mr. Yoki in the ship procurement," Wimboyono said.
He added that PIS rents about 200 ships annually through 800 tender processes, making the three JMN ships insignificant in proportion. The procurement followed procedures and market prices, with no intervention from Yoki in technical specifications, estimated prices (HPS), or tender winners. Under Yoki's leadership, PIS saw profits surge fourfold to Rp9 trillion and owned 100 ships for the first time, becoming Southeast Asia's largest energy shipping company.
Regarding the Banyu Urip crude oil export during Yoki's tenure at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI), Wimboyono noted that the decision was made through coordination with SKK Migas, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and a legal opinion from the KPK, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic's excess supply. The export was conducted at prices above the Indonesian Crude Price (ICP), with proceeds deposited into the state treasury without causing any loss.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, the related ship owner, through his lawyer Hamdan Zoelva, stated that Pertamina benefited greatly by renting his ships for US$37,000 per day, well below the global market rate of US$64,000 per day. Witnesses like Rian Aditiana from KPI confirmed this. The rental process met all requirements without special treatment and prioritized Indonesian-flagged ships in line with the cabotage principle for transporting domestic and imported crude oil.
