Indonesia’s “Gasoline Godfather” Riza Chalid, who is wanted for corruption investigations in his home country, appears to have entered and exited Malaysia over a dozen times up to March last year.
Moreover, a source familiar with immigration matters in Malaysia told Malaysiakini there appears to be no record of him leaving the country since his last entry.
The revelation came after Malaysiakini obtained passport information believed to belong to Riza (above), which was issued by the South Jakarta Immigration Office on May 27, 2022.
The document was originally due to expire on May 27 next year, but Indonesian authorities revoked it on July 11 last year – the same day its prosecutors named him as a suspect in a corruption case involving the republic’s oil and gas giant, Pertamina.
Based on the passport number, the source disclosed that Riza had entered and exited Malaysia at least 13 times since August 2024.
He last entered Malaysia using the passport on March 18 with no record of him leaving the country, despite regulations stipulating that Indonesians entering Malaysia on a tourist visa may only stay in the country for up to 30 days.
It is unclear whether Riza holds any other permits to remain in Malaysia, such as an expatriate pass or permanent resident status, which would also be invalidated upon the revocation of his passport.
17 arrests, RM67.2b losses
Riza is said to be the beneficial owner of PT Tangki Merak and PT Orbit Terminal Merak. He is accused of profiteering from an inflated fuel storage lease agreement.
Seventeen individuals, including current and former Pertamina executives, have been arrested in connection with the case, which reportedly resulted in 286 trillion rupiah (RM67.2 billion) in losses.
Previously, an Indonesian anti-graft group, Masyarakat Anti-Korupsi Indonesia (Maki), raised suspicions that Riza remains in Malaysia pending the execution of an Interpol red notice and deportation.
An Interpol red notice is a “request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action” - based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country.
Contacted yesterday, Maki spokesperson Boyamin Saiman said Riza’s purported movements further confirm suspicions over his current whereabouts.
“I still believe he is in Malaysia, because of his connections in the country,” said Boyamin, who, in an open letter to Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto last year, had urged the leader to press Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Riza’s return.
In his letter, Boyamin had claimed that Riza is married into a royal family from either a northern or southern Malaysian state.
At the time, Anwar was scheduled to officially meet with Prabowo in Jakarta, and when questioned by Indonesian media, he reiterated Malaysia would not interfere in the ongoing legal proceedings against Riza and that, while he knew the oil tycoon in passing, he was unaware of his whereabouts.
“Anwar never denied knowing Riza,” Boyamin stated, adding the purported royal connection could have been a contributing factor to the billionaire’s alleged move to Malaysia.
Last December, Indonesia’s Immigration and Correction Minister Agus Andrianto reportedly said Riza’s last known residence was in Malaysia.
On Feb 2, Indonesia’s news agency Antara quoted Interpol’s Indonesia National Bureau secretary, Untung Widyatmoko, who said a red notice against Riza had been issued to 190 countries on Jan 23.
Untung also said a team of Indonesian police has been sent to the country concerned, but since then, there have been no further updates on the matter. - Mkini
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