Customs and Excise Condemns Demolition of Official Residence in Surabaya

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) East Java I has condemned the demolition of an official residence allegedly carried out by a woman in Surabaya using heavy machinery, specifically an excavator. The case is currently being heard at the Surabaya District Court. Head of DJBC East Java I, Rusman Hadi, stressed that the act of demolishing the official residence constitutes a legal violation and a general criminal offence. “Regarding the viral news about the demolition of the official residence, I need to explain that it is a general criminal offence,” Rusman told journalists on Tuesday (7/7). Rusman explained that the official residence is an asset belonging to Customs and Excise, intended for active employees and rented out at a very low cost. “Customs and Excise owns assets in the form of official residences designated for active employees. The house is rented out at a very low cost,” he said. However, according to regulations, the official residence must be returned to the state once the occupying employee enters retirement. In this case, a former Customs and Excise employee who occupied the building refused to vacate the house, citing a lack of alternative accommodation. “Supposedly, when an employee retires, the official residence is returned to the state. But in this case, the person concerned refused to vacate the house on the grounds of having no place to live,” he stated. “In fact, the house is still needed by active employees who do not yet have a place to live,” Rusman continued. Rusman emphasised that his party could not stand idly by when state assets were damaged, as rebuilding the house would require state funds. Consequently, the matter was reported to the police through the Customs and Excise legal aid team. “When state assets are damaged, it certainly cannot be ignored. Rebuilding the house requires state funds. Therefore, we handed this matter over to the police through the Customs and Excise legal aid team. If we do not take action, we would be considered negligent in safeguarding state assets,” he said. Rusman stated that the handling of the case is entirely managed by the Customs and Excise legal aid team and the report has been submitted to the police for processing in accordance with applicable regulations. He mentioned that the case has now reached the trial stage. “The handling of the case is entirely carried out by the Customs and Excise legal aid team. The report has been submitted to the police and processed according to regulations. Currently, if I am not mistaken, the case has entered the trial stage,” he said. He stressed that the legal steps taken are part of efforts to secure state assets, as all such assets have been certified as state property. Rusman noted that for parties who feel they have rights to the asset, there are ways to pursue legal channels rather than resorting to damaging or forcibly dismantling it. Previously, a woman in Surabaya, Murnita Triwidyaning alias Nita, had to be tried at the Surabaya District Court after recklessly demolishing an official residence belonging to an official of the DJBC East Java I Regional Office using an excavator. Nita argued that she had purchased the official residence located at Jalan Asemrowo Kali Number 23, Surabaya. She then demolished the building with a heavy excavator she rented for IDR 7 million. For her actions, Nita is charged under Article 410 of the Criminal Code concerning the destruction of another person’s building in conjunction with Article 20 letter b of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. As an alternative charge, the prosecutor also charged the defendant under Article 406 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code concerning the destruction of another person’s property in conjunction with Article 20 letter b of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.