International police agency Interpol has issued a red notice for the arrest of prominent Indonesian oil magnate Mohammad Riza Chalid, wanted in connection with a massive corruption scandal estimated at $17 billion. The notice, distributed to Interpol's 196 member countries, requests worldwide law enforcement assistance in locating and provisionally detaining the 66-year-old tycoon.
Chalid, known locally as the "gasoline godfather," is accused of involvement in corrupt activities at Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina between 2018 and 2023. According to Indonesian authorities, the alleged crimes include money laundering and manipulating lease agreements.
Untung Widyatmoko of Interpol's Indonesia National Central Bureau confirmed the notice was issued on January 23, stating that while Chalid's exact location remains unspecified, authorities "already know" his general whereabouts.
The case centers on allegations that Chalid, his son Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, and several Pertamina executives collaborated to import crude oil from international suppliers at inflated prices, bypassing regulations requiring domestic sourcing. Indonesia's Attorney General's Office estimates the financial damage at approximately 285 trillion rupiah ($17 billion), with 18 individuals currently named as suspects.
Chalid's Indonesian passport was revoked in October 2024 as the investigation progressed. The case highlights Indonesia's ongoing struggle with systemic corruption, following other high-profile prosecutions including a former communications minister sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2023 for graft costing over $530 million.
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