Former Jakarta Environmental Agency Head Named Suspect in Fatal Bantargebang Waste Landslide

Investigators from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) have named Asep Kuswanto, the former Head of the Jakarta Environmental Agency (Dinas LH DKI Jakarta), as a suspect in the collapse at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), which resulted in seven fatalities. Environment Minister/Head of the Environment Control Agency (BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, stated that the government will not tolerate waste management practices that violate regulations, especially when they lead to loss of life. “This law enforcement is part of the government’s commitment to ensure that waste management is carried out responsibly and in accordance with statutory provisions. We have provided guidance, supervision, and administrative sanctions. However, if not complied with, law enforcement measures must be taken,” Hanif said, as reported by Antara on Monday (20/4/2026). He revealed updates on the case handling by environmental law enforcement authorities, confirming that Asep has been designated as a suspect. The suspect designation is part of the law enforcement process regarding alleged waste management that does not meet norms, standards, procedures, and criteria, aggravated by deaths and serious injuries. The landslide incident on Sunday (8/3) in landfill zone 4 of TPST Bantargebang serves as clear evidence of non-compliant management. The event caused seven deaths and six injuries. Previously, KLHK/BPLH had implemented phased guidance and supervision measures. TPST Bantargebang had been subjected to an administrative sanction in the form of a government coercion order since December 2024. Supervision of the sanction implementation was conducted twice, in April and May 2025, with results indicating that the management had not fulfilled the stipulated obligations.