Residents foiled court's land seizure

Residents foiled court's land seizure

TANGERANG: Hundreds of residents in Rawa Mekar Jaya subdistrict,
Serpong district, Tangerang, foiled the Tangerang District
Court's attempt to seize a one-hectare plot of land, including
the site of the subdistrict administration office on Thursday.

"However, this plot of land and the subdistrict administration
office are the village's assets. Residents will oppose any
attempt to seize them," subdistrict chief Abul Rachim told
Serpong district chief Herry Heryanto, court officials, police
officers and lawyers who arrived to witness the scheduled seizure
on Thursday.

Execution of the court order almost triggered violence when
one angry resident beat a court representative who was heading to
the subdistrict office to discuss the matter. The resident, named
Jamal, was arrested by the police.

The case first came to light when a local resident named Ali
Samad lost his claim over the land in a trial at the district
court. The Supreme Court overturned the district court's ruling
on appeal in 1998. Ali Samad had reportedly received financial
backing to see the case through from a man called Joong.

After the implementation of the Supreme Court's verdict, the
Tangerang District Court ordered the seizure on behalf of the
plaintiff.

"The plaintiff won the case because he bought both Tangerang
District Court and Supreme Court officials. I can say this
because Supreme Court officials previously came here, asked for
Rp 25 million and promised to reject the plaintiff's
lawsuit," said Rachim. --JP