Law enforcement institutions, especially the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), have recently launched investigations into graft cases dating back years, raising speculation that such moves are politically driven ahead of the 2024 elections.

Among the latest case to be opened occurred on Tuesday when the KPK named Karen Agustiawan, former president director of state energy firm Pertamina, a suspect in a case pertaining to liquefied natural gas (LNG) procurement between 2011 and 2021.

The case relates to 2012 when Karen, who headed the firm from 2009 to 2014, decided to import LNG through several companies abroad, including United States-based Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC. The decision was made to prevent an LNG deficit in Indonesia, which was forecast to occur between 2009 and 2040.

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri said the decision to procure the gas was not subject to a business analysis. Karen also did not report the procurement to the Pertamina board of commissioners.

“The plan was also not reported to the shareholders’ meeting, so KA’s move did not receive authorization from the government at that time,” Firli said during the press briefing on Tuesday, referring to Karen by her initials.

The imports eventually resulted in oversupply, which forced the energy firm to sell at a loss causing Rp 2.1 trillion (US$136.6 million) in state losses, according to the antigraft body.

Karen denies the accusation, claiming that she received the government’s authorization for the procurement. She also claimed that the state losses occurred between 2020 and 2021 as an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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