The Indonesian National Police (Polri) submitted a request for an Interpol Red Notice against suspect Riza Chalid in September 2025. However, it took several months for Interpol to officially issue the Red Notice, which finally happened in January 2026.
Riza Chalid was officially added to Interpol’s Red Notice list on January 23, 2026, marking him as an international fugitive. This designation signifies a global call to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
Addressing the significant delay in the Red Notice’s issuance, Kombes Pol Ricky Purnama, Head of the International Relations Division (Kabag Jatinter) at Polri, explained the complex mechanisms at Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon. A major hurdle was the differing perspectives on legal systems across various countries, particularly concerning the definition and proof of state losses.
“We endeavored to communicate that the perception of corruption crimes in Indonesia necessitates proof of state losses. Meanwhile, from the perspective of other legal systems, corruption is not always synonymous with state losses,” Ricky elaborated during a press conference at the National Police Headquarters on Sunday (1/2).
Ricky further highlighted a critical point, stating, “Now, these state losses are often viewed as events closely tied to political dynamics. Interpol, however, is an institution that does not facilitate law enforcement cooperation that intersects with political dynamics.” This fundamental difference in interpretation and operational scope contributed significantly to the extended processing time.
Through its National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Indonesia, Polri consistently provided compelling arguments for Riza Chalid’s inclusion on the Red Notice. This persistent advocacy was instrumental in bridging the definitional gaps and ultimately led to the Red Notice’s publication after a protracted period of communication.
“It was this aspect that required a considerable amount of time for us to conduct serious engagement and communication with Interpol Headquarters in France. Ultimately, they understood and accepted the perspective we presented to them, leading to the issuance of the Red Notice last week,” Ricky confirmed, underscoring the diligent diplomatic efforts involved.
Kasus Riza Chalid
Riza Chalid has been designated a fugitive and placed on the Wanted List (DPO) in connection with an alleged corruption case involving crude oil and refinery product management. This formal designation underscored the severity of the allegations against him.
The DPO for Riza Chalid was officially issued on August 19, 2025, after he failed to comply with three summonses for questioning by investigators regarding the crude oil case. His repeated non-compliance escalated his status from a person of interest to an official fugitive.
Prior to his DPO designation, the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) had already named Riza a suspect in a money laundering (TPPU) investigation. This TPPU inquiry was a significant development stemming from the initial corruption allegations concerning crude oil and refinery product management, with the suspect designation occurring on July 11, 2025.
During the course of the TPPU investigation, Kejagung successfully seized nine luxury vehicles from parties allegedly affiliated with Riza Chalid. These high-value assets included a BMW, Toyota Rush, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Alphard, Mini Cooper, and a Mercedes-Benz, indicating the scale of the suspected illicit gains.
Furthermore, Kejagung also confiscated luxury properties belonging to Riza Chalid. These included a lavish residence in the exclusive Rancamaya Golf Estate in Bogor, West Java, and another property in the upscale Kebayoran Baru area of South Jakarta, further highlighting the extent of assets under scrutiny.
Riza Chalid was initially implicated and charged as a suspect in the corruption of crude oil and refinery product management at Pertamina. He is accused of committing unlawful acts during the process of leasing oil tanks owned by his company, an alleged scheme that caused significant financial detriment.
For his alleged actions, Riza Chalid has been charged under Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 juncto Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law juncto Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code. These articles carry severe penalties for individuals found guilty of corruption and related offenses.
As of now, Riza Chalid has not issued any statement regarding the allegations or the ongoing legal proceedings against him.
Summary
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) requested an Interpol Red Notice for Riza Chalid in September 2025, which was officially issued in January 2026 after a several-month delay. The delay arose from differing legal interpretations at Interpol Headquarters, especially concerning the definition of “state losses” in corruption cases. Interpol’s policy to avoid cases seen as having political dynamics also contributed to the extended processing time. Through diligent communication and advocacy, Polri successfully clarified Indonesia’s legal perspective, leading to the Red Notice’s publication.
Riza Chalid is an international fugitive, designated on the Wanted List (DPO) in August 2025 for failing to comply with official summonses. He is a suspect in an alleged corruption case concerning crude oil and refinery product management at Pertamina, as well as a money laundering investigation. Authorities have seized nine luxury vehicles and various luxury properties from parties allegedly affiliated with him. Chalid faces severe charges under the Anti-Corruption Law for his alleged unlawful actions that caused significant financial detriment.