Tanah Abang Land Sued by Hercules and Heirs, Here is BPN's Response
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A 3.4-hectare plot of land in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, which is planned to be developed into 1,000 vertical housing units by the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait or Ara, has been sued by an individual claiming to be an heir named Sulaeman Effendi.
Sulaeman is suing for the land with the assistance of the Legal and Advocacy Team of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the United Indonesian People’s Movement (GRIB) Jaya, led by Rosario de Marshal alias Hercules.
The lawsuit was registered at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN Jakpus) on Thursday (16/4/2026) with registration number 241/Pdt.G/2026/PN Jkt.Pst concerning unlawful acts.
In the case, Sulaeman is suing several parties, namely the defendant PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI.
Then, also sued is the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) in this case (cq) the Head of the Jakarta Regional Office (Kanwil) of Land cq the Head of the Central Jakarta Administrative City Land Office (Kantah).
Also, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) cq Metro Jaya Regional Police cq Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) (Subdit II Harda), the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) cq Kebon Kacang Ward Head, cq Kebon Melati, cq Governor of DKI Jakarta, and the Minister of Transportation (Menhub).
Furthermore, it demands that the disputed land be declared as the property of the plaintiff with full legal force, halting all activities on the land until there is a final enforceable decision, and requesting that the authorities (Metro Jaya Regional Police) wait for the civil decision before any other processes proceed.
In response to this, the Director General (Dirjen) of Land Dispute and Conflict Handling at the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Iljas Tedjo Prijono, responded that his side cannot violate a person’s right to take efforts to defend their rights or claim as a party through a judicial institution.
“And we also have a legal obligation to take steps in the event of a lawsuit; we will automatically follow the legal process that is currently underway,” he said briefly when met at the Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Office, Jakarta, on Thursday (23/4/2026).
The Tanah Abang land dispute has actually been ongoing for years. However, it only surfaced after the visit by PKP Minister Maruarar Sirait or Ara and the Head of the State-Owned Enterprises Supervisory Body Dony Oskaria on Sunday (5/4/2026).
By the Ministry of PKP, the land divided into three plots is planned to be transformed into 1,000 vertical housing units for low-income communities (MBR).
However, the plan is hindered by the land dispute. KAI, which claims to hold the Land Management Rights Certificate (HPL) on the land, cannot do much.
Two plots with HPL Number 17 and HPL Number 19 have been managed by GRIB Jaya so far.
For information, GRIB Jaya is known to have been guarding and managing the land after receiving a mandate from Sulaiman Effendi.