Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A lawsuit involving Indonesian tycoon Sugiyanto Kusuma, also known as Aguan, and former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) over the Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 (PIK 2) project was postponed after most defendants failed to appear in court. Of the eight defendants, only one attended the initial hearing scheduled for Monday, December 16.
The lawsuit, filed by 20 plaintiffs from various civil groups, accuses the defendants of unlawful actions related to PIK 2, a major real estate project categorized as a National Strategic Project (PSN) during Jokowi’s administration. Represented by their legal team, the plaintiffs are pursuing a civil case against Jokowi, Aguan, and six others.
Neither Jokowi nor Aguan attended the hearing, nor did they send legal representatives. According to reports by Kompas, only Surta Wijaya, Chairman of the Indonesian Village Government Association (Apdesi), appeared before the Central Jakarta District Court.
Due to the absence of most defendants, presiding judge Marper postponed the hearing to January 6, 2025. “The hearing is delayed because many parties were absent, and the judge will take a two-week leave,” said Juju Purwantoro, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, in a statement reported by KBA News on Tuesday, December 17.
The eight defendants named in the case are:
- Sugiyanto Kusuma (Aguan) – Founder of Agung Sedayu Group
- Anthony Salim – CEO of Salim Group
- PT Pantai Indah Kapuk II Tbk
- PT Kukuh Mandiri Lestari
- Joko Widodo (Jokowi) – Former President of Indonesia
- Airlangga Hartarto – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs
- Surta Wijaya – Chairman of Apdesi
- Maskota HJS – Former Apdesi leader
Attorney Ahmad Khozinudin, representing the plaintiffs, alleged that the defendants caused material damages amounting to Rp612 trillion (approximately $39 billion) and pushed for compensation. He argued that the expansion of PIK 2 far exceeded the area designated as a PSN, affecting local communities.
“The people have suffered tremendous losses due to their actions. We are demanding compensation from Jokowi, Aguan, and Anthony Salim for their role in this project, which has left many people in dire conditions,” Ahmad said.
The plaintiffs allege eight violations of the law, arguing that while the PSN officially covers only 1,755 hectares, the land acquisition for PIK 2 has allegedly expanded to as much as 100,000 hectares, encroaching into areas such as Serang in Banten province.
The lawsuit includes two key demands:
- An immediate halt to the PIK 2 project, both within and beyond PSN-designated areas.
- A formal court ruling that the defendants engaged in unlawful actions during the project’s implementation.
Hearing Postponed to 2025
The court postponed the case to January 6, 2025, instructing all defendants to attend and urging both parties to fulfill any outstanding administrative requirements for legal representation.
Indonesian Tycoons Aguan and Jokowi Sued for $39 Billion Over PIK 2 Project
The postponed hearing, from December 16 2024 to January 6 2025, marks the beginning of what could be a prolonged legal battle. If successful, the lawsuit would set a significant precedent for accountability in Indonesia’s infrastructure development landscape.
(Raidi/Agung)
