JAKARTA, Indonesia: In a significant boost to Indonesia’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, Interpol has issued a red notice for the arrest of one of the country’s most prominent oil tycoons in connection with a major graft case, police confirmed late Sunday.
Mohammad Riza Chalid, 66—widely known as the “gasoline godfather”—is wanted by Indonesian authorities for his alleged role in corruption involving state-owned energy giant Pertamina between 2018 and 2023. The case, valued at approximately $285 million, includes allegations of money laundering and manipulation of a lease agreement.
Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of Interpol’s Indonesia National Central Bureau, confirmed that the red notice was officially issued on January 23, marking a key step forward in international cooperation, according to AFP.
“We can’t specify exactly where he is, but we already know,” Widyatmoko said, underscoring confidence in the ongoing efforts to locate the suspect.
The red notice has been circulated to law enforcement agencies across Interpol’s 196 member countries, requesting assistance to locate and provisionally arrest Riza, reinforcing Indonesia’s determination to pursue justice beyond its borders.
In July, prosecutors named Riza, his son Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, and several high-ranking Pertamina officials as suspects in the sweeping corruption investigation.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the group is accused of colluding to import crude oil from overseas suppliers at inflated prices instead of sourcing domestically, a move that allegedly violated Indonesian law and caused substantial state losses.
Demonstrating firm enforcement measures, Indonesia’s immigration office revoked Riza’s passport in October, further limiting his ability to evade authorities.
Indonesia has intensified its crackdown on corruption in recent years, with law enforcement agencies targeting graft across multiple sectors. The country has arrested and prosecuted scores of public officials, signaling growing institutional resolve.
In 2023 alone, a former communications minister was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted in a corruption case that investigators said cost the nation more than $530 million—highlighting a broader commitment to accountability and reform.
