Police Drop Case Against Serang Mayor Over SDN Kuranji Land Dispute

Banten Regional Police have terminated an investigation into a report of fraud, embezzlement, and document forgery against Serang Mayor Budi Rustandi concerning a land dispute at SDN Kuranji. Police stated they found no criminal elements in the case. Director of General Criminal Investigation at Banten Police, Senior Commissioner Dian Setyawan, said investigators had examined a number of witnesses, analysed documents, sought opinions from criminal law experts, and held a special case conference. The process also involved the Legal Division, Internal Affairs, and the Banten Police Supervisory Inspectorate. “Based on the results of the investigation, analysis of legal facts, evidence, and expert criminal law testimony, no criminal elements were found. Therefore, the police report has been terminated,” Dian said on Thursday (9/7/2026). Dian explained the case originated from a land dispute over SDN Kuranji between the Serang City Government and the heirs of Ahmad bin Samin in 2024. The two parties held two mediation sessions but failed to reach an agreement because the city government maintained that the release of regional assets must be based on a final and binding court ruling. The heirs subsequently filed a civil lawsuit at the Serang District Court on 20 November 2024. During court-ordered mediation on 13 March 2025, both parties agreed to a compensation of IDR 500 million and the handover of approximately 1,456 square metres of vacant land to the heirs. “However, the panel of judges did not ratify the agreement as a deed of settlement,” Dian clarified. According to Dian, the judges considered the disputed object to be a regional government asset, meaning its resolution must be through a final and binding court decision. Subsequently, on 7 May 2025, the heirs withdrew the civil lawsuit. With the withdrawal of the suit, the peace agreement that had been drafted automatically lost its legal force as a basis for the write-off or transfer of Serang City Government assets. “During the investigation, police also sought the opinion of criminal law experts. Based on the expert review, the peace agreement used as the basis for the report was never ratified by the court, and the civil lawsuit was withdrawn, rendering it unenforceable,” he stated. Furthermore, the issuance of the Right of Use Certificate in the name of the Serang City Government was deemed part of an effort to secure regional assets. Police emphasised that the certificate was issued in the name of the regional government, not personally in the name of the Serang Mayor. “Based on all the legal facts, evidence, and expert testimony gathered during the investigation, investigators concluded that no elements of fraud, embezzlement, or document forgery were found in this case. The police report against the Serang Mayor has been officially terminated,” he concluded.