Keppel’s Indonesian subsidiary, PT. Kepland Investama, is facing another lawsuit over its land plot in Jakarta.

On March 17, Keppel announced that an individual, Tumpal Hutabarat, has commenced civil action over a 24,500 sqm (263,715.81 sq ft) land plot, where International Financial Centre (IFC) Jakarta Tower 2 is located at.

Tumpal, in his lawsuit, is claiming that he is the legal owner of the plot and is asking for potential compensation of IDR2.28 trillion ($185.96 million). The amount is derived from the total land area indicated in affected land certificates, as well as the return of any unused land plots within the dispute.

According to the filing, PT Kepland acquired the ownership rights of the plots on Dec 1, 2000, and holds the land certificates to these plots. Its legal advisor in Indonesia says these certificates are “the strongest proof of ownership in accordance with Indonesian Agrarian Law and that, in any event, the claimant is time-barred from challenging the certificates as proof of land ownership”.

Tumpal’s claim is said to be based on a document known as a “girik”, which was obtained around 1954. Under the Indonesian Agrarian Law, this is not considered as proof of land ownership.

In addition, PT Kepland’s legal adviser says Tumpal’s claim has several “legal defects” which means he has no legal basis to claim ownership of the land.

PT Kepland says it denies the allegations and will “vigorously defend” the suit. It will also apply to dismiss Tumpal’s claims.

On Feb 14, 2022, Keppel announced that it faced a similar suit by one Raden Saleh Abdul Malik, who claimed ownership over the disputed land plots measuring 17,000 sqm through a “girik”. At the time, Raden was seeking compensation of IDR1.72 trillion as well as a declaration that he is the legal owner of the plots.

That case was ruled inadmissible by the South Jakarta District Court as well as the High Court of DKI Jakarta.