TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Executive Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Simon Aloysius Mantiri apologizes to the public regarding the alleged legal violations involving its subsidiary. This was conveyed in a press conference held today at the Pertamina Office on March 3, 2025.

“We convey our sincerest apologies to all the people of Indonesia for the recent events that have occurred. This is certainly an event that has deeply impacted all of us,” said Simon in the press conference at the Pertamina Office on Monday afternoon.

Simon conveyed that the company respects the ongoing legal process and appreciates law enforcement measures against alleged violations of crude oil import and downstream product management from 2018 to 2023. “We strongly support the efforts of the Attorney General and are ready to provide the necessary data and additional information for the legal process to proceed according to the rules,” he said.

Simon ensured that Pertamina’s products have met the standards set by the Directorate General of Oil and Gas of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. “We understand the public’s concerns. This is a moment for us to continue improving ourselves,” he said.

The allegations of legal violations surfaced following indications of discrepancies in the import of crude oil and downstream products by Pertamina’s subsidiary. The Attorney General’s Office is still conducting further investigations by designating six high-ranking Pertamina officials as suspects in the alleged corruption case of crude oil and refinery product management.

The suspects include the President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Riva Siahaan; the Director of Feedstock and Product Optimization Sani Dinar Saifuddin at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional; the President Director of PT Pertamina International Shipping Yoki Firnandi; the Vice President of Feedstock Management Agus Purwono at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional; the Director of Marketing Center and Trading Maya Kusmaya at PT Pertamina Patra Niaga; and Vice President (VP) of Trading Operation Edward Corne at Pertamina Patra Niaga.

In addition, there are three suspects from the private sector, namely the Beneficial Owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa Muhammad Keery Andrianto Riza; the Commissioner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa and PT Jenggala Maritim Dimas Werhaspati; and the Commissioner of PT Jenggala Maritim and President Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak Gading Ramadan Joede.

Pertamina’s communication has recently come under scrutiny. The Executive Director of Katong Indonesia, Dirga Maulana, believes that Pertamina’s crisis communication strategy still focuses on denial without considering public opinion. He mentioned that Pertamina is applying William Benoit’s “Image Repair Theory,” which emphasizes self-defense but overlooks the facts.

“Pertamina should understand the dynamics of the public and acknowledge their mistakes. W. Timothy Coombs’ Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) approach could be an option, for example, by acknowledging that they are also victims of a corrupt system or by accepting responsibility for the company’s negligence,” said Dirga in his statement on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

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