TBM Report
Interpol has issued a Red Notice for Mohammad Riza Chalid, a high-profile Indonesian oil tycoon nicknamed the “Gasoline Godfather,” over his alleged involvement in a massive $17 billion corruption scandal at the state-owned oil firm Pertamina. The notice, issued on January 23, 2026, marks a significant escalation in Indonesia’s efforts to retrieve one of its most wanted international fugitives.
The 66-year-old businessman is accused by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) of masterminding a fuel import scheme between 2018 and 2023. Authorities allege that Chalid and his associates bypassed domestic oil procurement mandates, instead importing crude oil at inflated prices from overseas suppliers to siphon off state funds. Along with money laundering, Chalid is also under investigation for manipulating fuel terminal lease agreements. His son, Muhammad Kerry Adrianto, and several former Pertamina executives have also been named as suspects. Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, Secretary of NCB Interpol Indonesia, confirmed that Chalid’s whereabouts have been mapped and placed under surveillance within an Interpol member country. His Indonesian passport was officially revoked last October to prevent further movement. This high-stakes pursuit reflects Indonesia’s ongoing crackdowns on grand corruption, following the high-profile 2023 sentencing of a former minister in a separate multi-million dollar fraud case.
