Indonesian police seek Interpol red notice for fugitive oil tycoon

The Indonesian police have requested a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organisation for fugitive businessperson Riza Chalid, who is reportedly on the run to avoid a corruption case involving crude oil management.

Indonesian news agency Antara News reported that Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of Interpol's National Central Bureau (NCB) in Indonesia, said the country’s Attorney-General’s Office (AGO) had completed all the requirements for the request last week.

"We immediately submitted the IRN request for the individual in question (Riza)," he was reported as saying, adding that Interpol will issue the red notice after conducting its assessment.

An Interpol red notice is an electronic alert issued to the police forces of all member countries, at the request of a member state claiming jurisdiction over the individual named.

The AGO has named Riza, the owner of PT Orbit Terminal Merak, as a suspect in a corruption case concerning the management of crude oil and refinery products at state-owned energy company Pertamina and Cooperation Contract Contractors (KKKS) between 2018 and 2023. He is also facing money laundering charges.

According to Antara News, Riza has been on the AGO's most-wanted list since 19 August, and his passport has been revoked. Indonesia's Immigration and Corrections Minister, Agus Andrianto, said Riza was detected in Malaysia after leaving Indonesia in February this year.

On the run

In July, an Indonesian anti-graft watchdog urged President Prabowo Subianto to press Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the return of Riza, who was believed to have previously resided in Malaysia.

In an open letter shared with the media, Masyarakat Anti-Korupsi Indonesia (Maki) spokesperson Boyamin Saiman said Indonesian authorities have yet to arrest or detain Riza, allegedly due to his location outside the republic.

On July 21, The Jakarta Post reported that Riza left Indonesia on Feb 6 and that his last known location was Malaysia, according to data from the Immigration and Corrections Ministry.

Indonesia’s acting immigration director-general Yuldi Yusman previously said the department had “communicated with the Malaysian Immigration Department and the Royal Malaysia Police to locate Riza”.

In his letter, Boyamin claimed that Riza - dubbed “the godfather of oil” - is married into a royal family from either a northern or southern Malaysian state, and allegedly has ties to Anwar.

In 2023, Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor alleged a link between Anwar and an “Indonesian businessperson”, later identified as Riza, who had expressed interest in investing in rare earth mining in the state.

Anwar later confirmed having an audience with Kedah ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, accompanied by an Indonesian businessperson, but stressed it was merely a courtesy call.

In July, Anwar reiterated that Malaysia will not interfere in ongoing legal proceedings against Riza.

During a media engagement with chief editors in Jakarta, Anwar reportedly indicated that he knew of Riza in passing but did not know of the tycoon’s current whereabouts, including whether he is in Malaysia.

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