JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Former CEO of state-owned oil & gas company Pertamina Ari Soemarno has been appointed as Head of the Oil & Gas Mafia Eradication Task Force at the Transition Team of President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The Head of Jokowi’s Transition Team Rini Soemarno has confirmed to the press on Tuesday (September 23) about the appointment of her brother to lead the Oil & Gas Mafia Eradication Task Force.
Ari Soemarno’s name has been earlier mentioned as one of potential candidates for becoming new Minister of Energy & Mineral Resources (ESDM) in Jokowi’s next cabinet.
Ari served as Pertamina CEO for three years (2006-2009). Ari also ever served as CEO of Pertamina’s subsidiary company PT Pertamina Energy Trading Ltd., famously known as Petral.
Previously, the watchdog groups such as the Indonesia Monitoring Center (IMC) have warned Jokowi to not appoint troubled figures, including Ari Soemarno, as his cabinet members.
IMC Executive Director Wakil Kamal, as quoted by jpnn.com, reminded Jokowi that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had examined Ari related to investigation into bribery case of Innospec Ltd.
Kamal added that Ari had been also examined by the Attorney General Office (AGO) related to investigation into graft case of Pertamina’s Balaraja fuel depot that caused Rp600 billion of state loses. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)