The 26-Year Journey of the Hotel Sultan Dispute Until Its Execution
Deputy Minister of State Secretary (Wamensesneg) Bambang Eko Suhariyanto stressed the importance of returning control of this asset to the state. “On several occasions, President Prabowo has conveyed that we must reclaim government assets, state assets that have been controlled by other parties,” Bambang said at the execution site on Thursday (18/6/2026).
The execution is based on a court ruling declaring that the Blok 15 land is a state asset that was released by the government in 1959. The execution refers to the decree of the Central Jakarta District Court Number 1/PDT.EKS/2026/PN.Jkt.Pst. in conjunction with Number 208/Pdt.G/2025/PN.Jkt.Pst. The Central Jakarta District Court Registrar, Azhar, stated that the application for the eviction execution had met legal requirements and ordered the clearing of the former HGB 26/Gelora and HGB 27/Gelora land plots. The asset is to be returned to the plaintiff, the State Secretariat, to be placed under full government control.
The 26-year dispute between the Gelora Bung Karno Complex Management Centre (PPKGBK) and PT Indobuildco, owned by businessman Pontjo Sutowo, began in January 2000. The conflict peaked when Building Use Rights (HGB) Number 26 and 27, registered under PT Indobuildco, were declared expired and were not extended by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN). The government, through the Ministry of State Secretariat and PPKGBK, filed an execution request in February 2026, which was subsequently granted by the Central Jakarta District Court. PT Indobuildco had actually been given 23 days, or nearly a month, to vacate the building voluntarily before the execution date of 18 June 2026.
The execution process, involving 3,161 combined personnel from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and related officers, was marked by resistance from a mass of sympathisers. The Head of Public Relations for the Metro Jaya Police Department, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, reported that 29 officers were injured, consisting of 26 police officers (minor injuries from stone-throwing), one TNI personnel (injured on the temple), and two civilians. A total of 69 people were arrested for allegedly inciting the commotion and obstructing officers. Police confirmed that the 69 detained individuals were not Hotel Sultan employees, but rather a mobilised and conditioned mass who had been staying at the hotel to hinder the execution process. The sympathisers unfurled banners reading “Reject the execution or seizure of indigenous business” and chanted slogans of rejection in front of the hotel lobby.
As a result of the execution process, the GBK management temporarily closed several access points to ensure smooth procedures on the ground. Gates 5, 7, and 8 were closed for 24 hours on Thursday (18/6/2026), with access diverted to Gates 2, 10, and 6. Affected facilities such as the East Parking area, City Forest, Softball Stadium, and the KTT Road to JICC were also temporarily closed. During the execution, officers were seen strictly guarding the hotel area while guests began to leave the premises.
Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto asserted that firm action was taken because obstructing a court ruling violates legal principles. “Members of the public who try to obstruct the enforcement of a court ruling are not only breaking the law but also violating the principle of res judicata pro veritate habetur, where a court decision is considered the most correct and binding,” he stressed.