Motorcycle Taxi Driver Sues Pandeglang and Banten Regional Government for Rp100 Billion Over Damaged Road
A resident of Pandeglang named Al Amin, a motorcycle taxi driver, has become a victim of a traffic accident due to damaged road infrastructure in Pandeglang Regency, Banten, and is suing the Pandeglang Regional Government and Banten Provincial Government for Rp100 billion.
“Mr. Amin has registered his lawsuit at Pandeglang District Court demanding his rights because he became a victim of a traffic accident,” said Al Amin’s legal representative, Raden Elang Mulyana, at Pandeglang District Court on Wednesday (25 February), as quoted from detik.com.
Elang stated that the lawsuit seeks compensation from the regional government. He said the funds would subsequently be used to repair damaged roads in Banten Province.
“The purpose of the lawsuit we filed is to demand compensation of Rp100 billion from the government. The purpose is later to be handed over to accident victims who have already occurred in Banten, and that money will be used to repair potholed and damaged roads,” he said.
Another legal representative, Ayi Erlangga, added that this civil lawsuit is based on unlawful conduct because it has resulted in casualties due to government negligence.
He stated that four parties are being sued. First is the Banten Governor, the Pandeglang Regent, the Banten Public Works and Housing Department (DPUPR), and the Pandeglang Transportation Department (Dishub). Additionally, an ambulance driver is a co-defendant.
“The material of the lawsuit happens to be about unlawful conduct. The parties being sued are first the Governor of Banten Province, the head of DPUPR Banten, the Pandeglang Regent, and also the head of the Pandeglang Transportation Department. Along with the co-defendant, the ambulance driver,” he said.
“The core issue is the repair of the road that has caused injuries to citizens in order to provide compensation of Rp100 billion. That money will be distributed entirely to the people of Banten,” he said.
Banten Provincial Government Response
The Banten Provincial Government is one of the parties facing a civil lawsuit due to Jalan Raya Labuan in Pandeglang Regency being damaged. The provincial government will face the lawsuit filed by motorcycle taxi driver Al Amin Maksum.
Acting Head of the Legal Bureau of Banten Provincial Government, Hadi Prawoto, expressed the provincial government’s condolences over the death of a primary school child who fell whilst being carried by Amin. The motorcycle ridden by Amin crashed after hitting a pothole on Jalan Raya Labuan-Pandeglang.
He stated that suing the government is the right of citizens. For him, the government is not above the law and every policy must be open for scrutiny.
“We respect the legal steps taken by the community. That is the constitutional right of citizens,” said Hadi.
“For us, lawsuits are not merely a matter of winning or losing in court. What is more important is ensuring public safety, accelerating infrastructure repairs, and conducting an evaluation of the existing maintenance system,” he said.
According to Hadi, if regional government policies have shortcomings, this will become material for improvement. However, if what the government has done complies with standards, the provincial government will prove it in court.
“If there are indeed shortcomings, of course it will be material for improvement. However, if the government has worked in accordance with standards and the provisions of laws and regulations, then we will also prove that legally,” he said.
He added that the provincial government is applying a responsive, transparent, and accountable approach in providing public services, particularly in the infrastructure sector which affects the welfare of the wider community.