Singapore has confirmed that Indonesian oil tycoon Muhammad Riza Chalid, wanted as a suspect in a major corruption case involving fuel imports, is not currently in Singapore.
On 16 July 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement addressing Indonesian media reports about Riza’s alleged presence in Singapore.
Singapore’s MFA stated that immigration records show Riza has not entered Singapore for some time.
“If officially requested, Singapore will provide the necessary assistance to Indonesia, within the ambit of our laws and international obligations,” said the ministry.
According to Indonesian weekly Tempo, Indonesia’s directorate general of immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry is coordinating with Malaysian officials to locate Riza.
Acting Indonesian immigration director-general Yuldi Yusman said Riza “has not returned to Indonesian territory” since leaving the country.
Yuldi told Tempo that immigration records indicate Riza has been in Malaysia since 6 February 2025 after departing from Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
“His whereabouts are suspected to be in Malaysia at the moment,” Yuldi was quoted as saying.
The Jakarta Post reported last Saturday that Riza has been named a suspect in a corruption case linked to fuel imports by subsidiaries of Pertamina, Indonesia’s state-owned oil and gas giant.
Investigators allege that the corruption scandal has caused Pertamina to register losses worth trillions of rupiah.
Seven people have been arrested so far in the investigation, including Riza’s son, Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza.
Kerry was named a suspect by Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office in February.
He is suspected of acting as the beneficial owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa and as an intermediary in Pertamina’s crude oil import auction.
Investigators accused Kerry of manipulating auction prices, causing state losses.
Earlier reports quoted Abdul Qohar, Indonesia’s director of investigation at the Attorney-General’s Office, as saying that Riza could be hiding in Singapore.
However, Yuldi has now confirmed that Riza is not there.
Riza, who is widely known in Indonesia as the “Gasoline Godfather”, is a prominent figure in the oil-import sector.
His company, Global Energy Resources, was once the largest oil supplier to Petral, a subsidiary of Pertamina.
Globe Asia previously estimated Riza’s wealth at US$415 million through his holdings in Global Energy Resources.
Investigators accuse Riza of intervening in PT Pertamina Niaga’s fuel management policies.
They allege he entered into a questionable fuel depot rental agreement at Merak Port in Cilegon, Banten.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Pertamina Patra Niaga did not need extra storage space but proceeded to rent the Merak depot owned by PT Orbit Terminal Merak.
Investigators said the imported oil was then stored at the facility, which was searched last February.
Abdul Qohar stated that the rental contract between Pertamina and Orbit Terminal Merak was meant to transfer ownership of the terminal to Pertamina over ten years.
However, investigators allege that the asset transfer clause was deliberately removed.
“For ten years, there was a clause that Pertamina would receive asset sharing, but that clause was removed,” said Qohar.
Investigators also claim that the rental prices were set significantly higher than market rates.
Three other individuals are accused of being involved in the unlawful depot contract.
These include Gading Ramadhan Joedo, President Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak, who has been a suspect since February.
Two officials from Pertamina are also implicated: Aflian Nasution, Vice President of Supply and Distribution, and Hanung Budya, Director of Marketing and Commerce.
Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) estimates the state suffered losses of up to Rp2.9 trillion (approx. US$175 million) due to the alleged offences.
Singapore’s MFA reaffirmed that it will assist Indonesia within the scope of its legal framework and international obligations.
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