Mohammad Riza Chalid
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Mohammad Riza Chalid (born 1960) also known as Reza Chalid is an Indonesian businessman who mainly runs petroleum company.[1]
Riza is known as the The Gasoline Godfather due to his dominance in oil import via his company Petral and always regarded as "Indonesia undisputed oil baron". His business values said to be US$ 30 billion annually. He was listed as 88th richest man among 150 richest Indonesian according to GlobeAsia.[2]
Early life
[edit]Riza Chalid was born in 1960 to Chalid bin Abdat (father) and Siti Hindun binti Ali Alaktiri (mother), both are of Arab Indonesian descent.[3]
He was married to Roestriana Adrianti in 1985.[4][5] They have two children Muhammad Kerry Adrianto (born 1985) and Kenesa Ilona Rina (born 1989). Riza and his wife decided to divorce in 2012.
Business career
[edit]In 1997, Riza was noted to represent PT Dwipangga Sakti Prima to buy Sukhoi aircraft from Russia. PT Dwipannga Sakti Prima was said to be under scrutiny for marking up price to buy Lockheed C-130 Hercules from United States which was sold US$30 million while it was sold US$25 million in the US.[6] He was accompanied by Ginandjar Kartasasmita who was Minister of National Development Planning at the time and General Wiranto who was Armed Forces Chief of Staff at the time.[7]
Riza also known to run Pertamina Energy Trading Limited (Petral) which he handles oil imports to Indonesia from Singapore during his involvement in Petral. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources stated that Petral was liquidated in 2015 due to legal troubles. Aside from Petral, Riza also ran another energy companies such as Supreme Energy, Paramount Petroleum, Straits Oil, and Cosmic Petroleum; all based in Singapore but listed in British Virgin Islands.[8]
Aside from oil industry, Riza also involved in several businesses. He was said to own shares in Indonesia AirAsia. He also hold franchising rights to Mexican indoor theme park chain KidZania which he opened in Pacific Place Mall in Jakarta, which he co-owned with Tan Kian and Tomy Winata.[8][9]
Legal issues
[edit]His name first came under scrutiny due to his involvement in House of Representatives spekaer Setya Novanto corruption scandal that involves the extension of operating rights for Freeport-McMoran in Papua. Setya also sent a letter demanding Pertamina to pay allegedly inflated costs for use of a fuel terminal, PT Orbit Terminal Merak which owned by Chalid.[10][11]
In 2025, his name was involved in 2025 Pertamina corruption case that involved 18 people being arrested within the Pertamina Patra Niaga which among them was his son Muhammad Kerry.[12] His house in South Jakarta was raided by prosecutors after his son Muhammad Kerry was arrested. On July 2025, Riza was named as suspect to Pertamina corruption case due to his involvement in PT Orbit Terminal Merak which is headed by his son Muhammad Kerry. Riza was said to have fled to Singapore before he was named as suspect.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Media, Kompas Cyber (2008-09-13). "Hidup Seimbang Uchu Riza". kompas.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
- ^ 150 Richest Indonesians Archived 2015-12-25 at the Wayback Machine, Jakarta Globe. Diakses pada 24 Desember 2015
- ^ "Informasi Perkara Jadwal Sidang". Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ^ Pambudy, Ninuk (14 September 2008). "Hidup Seimbang Uchu Riza". kompas.com.
- ^ ":: Informasi Lembaga Kursus Seluruh Indonesia ::". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
- ^ "Jakarta Post: Soeharto clan's past abuses emerge". Archived from the original on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
- ^ Rappler: Senja kala bisnis Riza Chalid
- ^ a b Godfather of Gasoline, Riza Chalid
- ^ Profil Reza Chalid, Tersangka Korupsi Minyak Mentah yang Kini Diburu Kejagung
- ^ Situs resmi PT Freeport Indonesia.
- ^ "IAW: Ada Setya Novanto dan M. Riza Chalid Di Petral Dan Freeport". Rakyat Merdeka Online. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ "Keterlibatan Mafia Migas dalam Pilpres Semakin Terkuak". Tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). 14 August 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ^ "Jakarta Launches Manhunt for Riza Chalid Over $17.5 Billion Oil Graft Scandal". Jakarta Globe. 10 July 2025.