Individual who made 2.28 trillion rupiah claim on Keppel unit’s Jakarta land appeals court decision

[SINGAPORE] The individual who attempted to exert claim over land in Jakarta owned by a subsidiary of Keppel is appealing the Indonesian court’s dismissal of his 2.28 trillion rupiah (S$186.3 million) claim in February.

“The claimant has submitted an appeal against the decision to the DKI Jakarta province High Court via the South Jakarta District Court,” said Keppel in a Wednesday (Mar 18) bourse filing that provided an update on the case.

The South Jakarta District Court on Feb 9 had ruled the lawsuit by Tumpal Hutabarat, the claimant, to be “inadmissible”, and ordered him to pay court costs.

“The company does not expect the appeal to have a material impact on its operations and the overall financial performance,” said Keppel.

The company added that the Indonesian counsel of the unit Kepland Investama “maintains its opinion that Kepland ’s land certificates are the strongest proof of ownership in accordance with Indonesian Agrarian Law”.

Dispute over Jakarta land

In March 2025, Keppel said that the claimant commenced civil action against its wholly owned subsidiary Kepland and other parties.

He alleged ownership rights over land plots measuring about 24,500 square metres. Keppel noted that part of the disputed land is occupied by the International Financial Centre Jakarta Tower 2 building complex.

The claimant sought a declaration of his status as the legal owner of the disputed land plots, alongside potential compensation aggregating to around 2.28 trillion rupiah, based on the total land area indicated in affected land certificates, and a return of any unused land.

Keppel noted that the individual’s claim was premised on his possession of a document known as a “girik”, which he obtained around 1954. It added that possession of this document, under Indonesian Agrarian Law, is not considered proof of land ownership.

Shares of Keppel rose 3.7 per cent or S$0.45 to S$12.76 on Wednesday, before the bourse filing.