Tempo Investigation: Businessman Claiming CIA Ties Penetrates Indonesian Power Circles and Defense Deals

Gaurav Srivastava, an Indian-born American businessman, allegedly posed as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative to infiltrate Indonesia’s highest political and business echelons, securing direct access to President Prabowo Subianto and his inner circle. His reported ultimate objective was to capture highly lucrative, top-tier defense procurement contracts. Based on an extensive investigation by Indonesia’s Tempo magazine, a complex web of exclusive meetings, official government documents, and cross-border financial transactions has been exposed, raising serious questions about the integrity of Indonesia’s defense procurement governance and how a purported intelligence asset built such unprecedented access.

The Illusion of Intelligence and High-Level Access

According to Tempo’s investigation, Niels Troost, a Dutch oil executive, first met Srivastava when his company faced potential Western sanctions for trading Russian oil. Srivastava promised salvation, introducing himself as a CIA agent operating under “non-official cover” alongside high-profile figures like Elon Musk and Warren Buffett.

This fabricated persona proved highly effective in Jakarta. Tempo reports that numerous Indonesian political and business elites readily accepted Srivastava as an American spy. His persuasive rhetoric and claims of close ties to former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark, White House officials, and Prabowo Subianto solidified his credibility.

Srivastava reportedly leveraged his charisma to project deep familiarity with the Indonesian leadership. During the Global Food Security Forum in Bali in November 2022, Srivastava introduced Prabowo as a “dearest friend,” a sentiment Prabowo warmly reciprocated. According to one source interviewed by Tempo, Srivastava “talked to Prabowo as if they were longtime friends,” successfully convincing onlookers of his deeply entrenched influence.

From Hambalang to Washington: Cultivating the Relationship

Based on documents and interviews reviewed by Tempo, Srivastava’s integration into Prabowo’s inner circle was heavily symbolized during a mid-2022 visit to Garuda Yaksa, Prabowo’s residence in Hambalang, West Java. Troost recalled traveling in a specialized convoy to bypass traffic. At the estate, Srivastava was greeted warmly by staff, demonstrating a familiarity that included knowing their families. A massive wooden eagle statue in the waiting room was, according to Srivastava, his personal gift to Prabowo—a purported tribute to the United States and the CIA.

This relationship paved the way for high-stakes meetings in the United States. Following the lifting of a 20-year US visa ban, Prabowo traveled to Washington, D.C., in October 2020. Tempo’s findings reveal that during this trip, Srivastava sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Prabowo at the St. Regis hotel as top-tier defense contractors pitched their portfolios. The delegation’s trip also included meetings at the Pentagon and a visit to The Bombay Club, which was momentarily interrupted by Black Lives Matter protests near the White House.

Letters of Intent and Wyoming Shell Companies

Tempo’s investigation highlights that Srivastava’s access quickly translated into official documentation. In December 2020, shortly after a Jakarta meeting between Prabowo, Srivastava, and then-Acting US Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense issued three letters (two letters of agreement and one letter of intent) to Srivastava’s companies:

• Orbimo Corporation: Intent to purchase 30 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

• Zegasus Corporation: Intent to purchase 36 F-15EX fighter jets, alongside maintenance and support.

• Constentis Corporation: Intent to develop a joint operations command and control center.

The magazine reports a glaring discrepancy: these companies were registered in Wyoming on the exact same day the letters were issued, or merely days prior. They possessed zero track record in high-tech military acquisitions and generated no prior revenue, acting entirely as shell companies.

Reflecting on the Jakarta meetings, Christopher Miller described Srivastava’s presence to Tempo as that of a classic opportunist. In Miller’s assessment, Srivastava was an ordinary con artist lurking at the edges of high-level diplomatic interactions, exploiting the illusion of access and influence for his own financial misconduct.

The Unity Accipiter Venture and Failed Defense Contracts

Srivastava’s ambitions continued with the creation of Unity Accipiter (UAC), a joint venture launched in 2021 with Sky Petroleum. In filings submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), UAC claimed to possess a “definitive purchase letter” from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense worth US$480 million for refurbished Black Hawk helicopters. However, Tempo notes that the joint venture was eventually dissolved with no material activity ever realized with the Ministry.

Srivastava also targeted domestic defense contractors. In July 2022, UAC signed a general operating agreement with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of C-130 Hercules aircraft, a deal valued at approximately US$150 million. Ultimately, PT DI’s CEO, Gita Amperiawan, terminated the partnership. Following due diligence, PT DI concluded that UAC was simply not robust enough to handle the defense contracts, opting instead to utilize domestic ecosystems.

A US$51 Million Flow and Money Laundering Allegations

The financial maneuvers uncovered by Tempo extend beyond defense logistics into massive, opaque capital flows involving Prabowo’s brother, influential business figure Hashim Djojohadikusumo. In December 2022, a staggering US$51 million was transferred from Troost’s Dubai-based company, Paramount Energy & Commodities DMCC, to PT Arsari Pradana Utama, a company majority-owned by Hashim. Srivastava allegedly justified the transfer under the guise of funding “covert CIA operations” and renewable energy investments.

Tempo’s findings suggest a sophisticated attempt to obscure the funds’ origins and destinations:

1. Just a week after the initial transfer, US$25 million was routed back to Srivastava’s network.

2. To evade bank scrutiny, WhatsApp and email records show Srivastava’s legal team and Arsari executives deliberately crafting false narratives, labeling the transfer as a “stock investment” or loan repayment.

3. The funds were washed through a labyrinth of entities—New Kapital Limited, Karlin & Peebles, Birdsong Central, and Aurora Point—ultimately purchasing a US$24.5 million luxury mansion in Pacific Palisades, California, for Srivastava.

Reviewing these financial acrobatics, anti-corruption lawyer Kush Amin assessed that Srivastava should be held fully legally accountable for orchestrating financial fraud and aggressively laundering the illicit proceeds.

RICO Lawsuits and the Collapse of a Spy

Srivastava’s carefully constructed façade began to crumble internally. In early 2026, Niels Troost filed a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) lawsuit against Srivastava in California, detailing a litany of white-collar crimes including fraud, extortion, and a targeted defamation campaign.

The lawsuit, combined with Tempo‘s investigative revelations, shattered his CIA persona. As controversies mounted, former US President Joe Biden’s campaign returned Srivastava’s substantial political donations, prompting the businessman to pivot toward the Republican party and adopt “America First” rhetoric. Meanwhile, numerous political and business elites in Indonesia who had initially bought into Srivastava’s espionage claims realized they had been manipulated by a grand illusion.

Unanswered Questions and Systemic Tests

Many critical questions remain unanswered. Up to the time of Tempo’s publication, both President Prabowo Subianto and Hashim Djojohadikusumo have remained silent, failing to respond to the magazine’s requests for comment regarding their ties to the disgraced businessman.

According to Tempo, this saga transcends the actions of a single, masterful con artist. It stands as a profound stress test for Indonesia—exposing severe vulnerabilities within the nation’s defense procurement mechanisms and glaring loopholes in the cross-border financial oversight of its ruling circles.