Former Head of DKI Environment Agency Named Suspect in Bantargebang Landslide, Rano: A Consequence That Must Be Borne
Jakarta - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Rano Karno has responded to the designation of former Head of the DKI Environment Agency (LH) Asep Kuswanto as a suspect in the rubbish landslide case at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST).
He stressed that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) respects the ongoing legal process and will remain cooperative.
“We’ll just let it be. We comply with the law in all respects. If it’s indeed a consequence, then it should be carried out. But certainly, we will support whatever is best to be done,” Rano said when met at Jakarta City Hall on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
“It’s actually a long journey. Not a one-week or two-week trip. It has even been warned since 2024. So, this means it’s a consequence that must be borne,” Rano added.
Nevertheless, Rano assured that the government will continue to provide legal assistance as part of the standard mechanisms within the administration.
“But of course, we will provide as much as possible, what’s the term, accompanying legal assistance. That’s a usual governmental mechanism,” he said.
Rano emphasised that the case must serve as a lesson for all Regional Device Organisations (OPD) within the DKI Provincial Government, particularly in waste management.
He acknowledged that waste issues in Jakarta pose a major challenge, with a volume of around 7,000 tonnes per day.
According to him, this burden is also shouldered by the TPST Bantargebang, which has operated for decades as a large-scale waste disposal site. Therefore, the DKI Provincial Government is pushing for strengthened waste management from upstream to the utilisation of technology.
Previously, environmental investigators designated Asep Kuswanto as a suspect related to alleged violations in waste management at TPST Bantargebang.
“Environmental law enforcement officials have named the suspect, the former Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Environment Agency with initials Mr AK, in the case of management of the Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) Bantargebang,” said Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofia in a written statement on Monday (20/4/2026).
The case originated from a landslide incident in landfill zone 4 of TPST Bantargebang on Sunday (8/3/2026), which resulted in seven deaths and six injuries.
Investigators assessed that the incident occurred due to waste management at the site not meeting applicable norms, standards, procedures, and criteria, thereby contributing to the landslide.
Meanwhile, Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement at the Environmental Law Enforcement Agency (BPLH) Rizal Irawan stated that the case handling is carried out in stages, from supervision to legal action.