TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A group of individuals has filed a lawsuit against tycoon Sugiyanto Kusuma, also known as Aguan, and Indonesian 7th President Joko Widodo or Jokowi, alleging unlawful acts in the Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 (PIK 2) project. The plaintiffs are seeking Rp612 trillion in compensation from the defendants.

“The value of Rp612 trillion is equivalent to the 2025 State Budget (APBN) deficit,” stated Ahmad Khozinudin, the plaintiffs' attorney, in a WhatsApp message to Tempo on Monday, December 16, 2024.

He explained that the lawsuit seeks compensation for the significant material and immaterial harm caused to the community by the PIK 2 project. The Rp612 trillion figure represents an attempt to restore the damages incurred.

“This compensation, in addition to recovering losses, can also be used to offset the APBN deficit,” continued Ahmad. “This would prevent the government from needing to increase taxes or incur further debt.”

According to the official website of the Finance Ministry, the 2025 State Budget Law outlines a deficit of Rp616.2 trillion, or 2.53 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has described this deficit level as moderate and safe.

Ahmad asserted that a court decision finding the defendants guilty would be sufficient to cover the State Budget shortfall. The compensation funds, if awarded by the court, would be paid to the state through the Finance Minister.

The plaintiffs have also made several other demands. “We request that the court determine that the defendants have committed eight unlawful acts in the implementation of the Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 project, a part of which is designated as a National Strategic Project (PSN),” Ahmad stated before the trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.

Another demand calls for the defendants to be ordered to halt the project entirely, both within and outside the designated PSN area. Ahmad argued that while the PSN area encompasses 1,755 hectares, the land acquisition process extends to Serang, Banten, potentially reaching 100,000 hectares.

Today, December 16, 2024, marks the first hearing of the PIK 2 civil lawsuit. The eight defendants include: Aguan, the boss of Agung Sedayu Group; Salim Group boss Anthoni Salim; PT Pantai Indah Kapuk Dua Tbk (PANI); PT Kukuh Mandiri Lestari; Jokowi; Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto; Surta Wijaya, Chairman of the Association of Village Governments of All Indonesia (Apdesi); and Maskota, Chairman of Apdesi Tangerang. 

The plaintiffs consist of 20 individuals from various sectors of society, including the Indonesian Retired Fighters Forum, chaired by Retired Colonel Sugeng Waras, and Aliansi Rakyat Menggugat led by Menuk Wulandari.

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