Indonesian court upholds earlier dismissal of 2.28 trillion rupiah claim on Keppel unit’s land
The claimant, Tumpal Hutabarat, has been ordered to pay costs, similar to a February ruling
[SINGAPORE] Keppel said on Tuesday (May 26) that the Indonesian High Court has upheld an earlier dismissal of an individual’s 2.28 trillion rupiah (S$186.3 million) claim over Jakarta land owned by its subsidiary.
Tumpal Hutabarat had alleged ownership rights to land in Jakarta owned by Keppel’s wholly owned subsidiary, Kepland. He commenced civil action against the unit and other parties, seeking compensation.
After the South Jakarta District Court on Feb 9 declared the claimant’s lawsuit “inadmissible”, he submitted an appeal against the decision to the DKI Jakarta Province High Court.
On Tuesday, Keppel said that the High Court had on May 13 “affirmed the earlier decision of the South Jakarta District Court”. Similar to the February ruling, the High Court also ordered the claimant to pay court costs.
Land dispute
Tumpal Hutabarat had alleged ownership rights over land plots measuring about 24,500 square metres, part of which is occupied by the International Financial Centre Jakarta Tower 2 building complex.
Besides compensation, he also sought a declaration of his status as the legal owner of the disputed land plots and a return of any unused land.
His claim was premised on his possession of a document known as a “girik”, which he obtained sometime around 1954, said Keppel, adding that possession of such a document is not considered proof of land ownership under Indonesian Agrarian Law.
Keppel shares closed Tuesday 2.1 per cent or S$0.23 lower at S$10.84, before the news.
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