Court rejects plan to appoint Basuki executor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta district court yesterday
\nrejected an appeal by the late Basuki Abdullah's lawyer to
\nappoint a new executor to his estate directing the matter instead
\nto the jurisdiction of the state owned Heredity Property
\nManagement Body (BHP).<\/p>\n
"The court cannot permit the request since it falls beyond the
\nrealm of a public court," said presiding Judge Moegihardjo in
\nanswer to Siti Zaitin Noor's appeal to have Mrs. Saraswati
\nKouwenhouven appointed as executor.<\/p>\n
In the court's opinion, a new executor must be designated by
\nthe BHP after considering a formal request made through a public
\nnotary.<\/p>\n
Basuki Abdullah, one of Indonesia's most celebrated painters,
\nwas murdered at his home at Jl. Keuangan, Cilandak, South
\nJakarta, in November.<\/p>\n
Though the culprits have since been apprehended and sentenced
\n10 and 15-year jail terms, controversy lingers surrounding a
\nsecret will drawn up by the painter just months before his tragic
\ndeath.<\/p>\n
In it he divides the bulk of his wealth, comprised of his
\npainting collection and reproduction rights, to Saraswati
\nKouwenhouven, his Dutch daughter from a previous marriage and
\nCicilia Sidhawati, his daughter from current Thai widow Nataya
\nNareerat as well as the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly Nataya was left with little in the will.<\/p>\n
Confusion surrounding the will arose just days after Basuki's
\ndeath when Dr. Fuad Hasan, former minister of education and
\nculture and the appointed executor of the estate, rejected any
\nconnection to the will saying Basuki had never informed him of
\nthe appointment.<\/p>\n
Siti Noor then asked the South Jakarta district court to
\nappoint Saraswati as executor.<\/p>\n
She claimed that as Basuki's natural daughter she was also the
\nlegal heir to the rest of the estate since their were no formal
\nrecords supporting Nataya's marriage to Basuki.<\/p>\n
Siti Noor also claimed that Cicilia is merely an adopted
\ndaughter of the painter.<\/p>\n
She brought forth evidence from the Indonesian embassy in
\nBangkok that the marriage was never registered, but the
\nallegation was countered by Nataya's lawyer, Eddy Danuwidjaja,
\nwho introduced marriage documents.<\/p>\n
If the court had approved Siti Noor's request, there would
\nhave been sufficient grounds to cut Nataya completely out of any
\nright to the remainder of Basuki's estate not stipulated in the
\nwill.<\/p>\n
Damage<\/p>\n
When asked to comment on the verdict, Siti Noor said, "no we
\ndon't feel we've been damaged by the verdict" adding that she
\nwill have to consult with Saraswati before deciding to take the
\nmatter to the BHP.<\/p>\n
The BHP, or Balai Harta Peninggalan, is a body under the
\nMinistry of Justice responsible for executing disputed
\ninheritances first established during Dutch colonial rule.<\/p>\n
Nataya's lawyer, Eddy Danuwidjaja, upon hearing the verdict,
\nrefused to call it a victory.<\/p>\n
"I was here only to represent my client who was called as a
\nwitness," he said, leaving the courtroom while concealing a grin.
\n(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/court-rejects-plan-to-appoint-basuki-executor-1447893297",
"image": ""
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