Workers at PT Dua Kuda Indonesia Face Layoff Threat, Legal Counsel Identifies Flaws in...
Amid President Prabowo Subianto’s aggressive efforts to attract foreign investment to bolster the national economy, a shocking phenomenon has emerged in the realm of commercial justice. PT Dua Kuda Indonesia (DKI), a major investment company in the palm oil processing sector that has operated in the country for over a decade, is now battling a bankruptcy attempt deemed irregular and detrimental to the investment climate.
The parent company of PT Dua Kuda Indonesia is a publicly listed entity on the Chinese stock exchange. Based on years of independent audits, the company has been declared financially sound with no record of bad debts. However, a “storm” arrived when the company was suddenly declared bankrupt by individuals suspected of using invalid documents.
Victory in China, Strange Defeat in Indonesia
The legal counsel for PT Dua Kuda Indonesia, Achmad Taufan Soedirjo, revealed an extraordinary legal contradiction between foreign and domestic rulings.
“In the courts of China, PT Dua Kuda was victorious. Yet the plaintiff is the same company as the petitioner here. In fact, it is the petitioner who owes us a significant debt. How can a healthy company with no bank debts and no payroll issues be suddenly forced into bankruptcy?” Taufan stated when met during the first court hearing agenda on Thursday (2/4).
Taufan emphasised that this irregularity has sparked international attention, including from Chinese media questioning the legal certainty for foreign investors in Indonesia.
Suspected Forged Evidence and Report to Bareskrim
PT Dua Kuda Indonesia has not remained passive. Taufan said they have pursued firm legal channels by reporting the suspected use of forged documents in the initial PKPU process to Bareskrim at National Police Headquarters.
“We strongly suspect that the data and documents used as evidence in the initial Suspension of Debt Payment Obligations (PKPU) are fake. We have reported this to Bareskrim. We have also filed a Review (PK) and Cassation to the Supreme Court,” Taufan asserted.
According to Taufan, there are three prior court decisions that support PT Dua Kuda Indonesia’s position, including a ruling from the North Jakarta District Court that favoured his client.
Fate of Hundreds of Employees and Message to Law Enforcers
This bankruptcy attempt is not merely a matter of figures on paper but concerns the livelihoods of hundreds of workers. If a financially healthy company is forced to cease operations, the economic stability of hundreds of families will be at stake.
Taufan hopes that the Supreme Court (MA) and the National Police Chief will give serious attention to this case to uphold Indonesia’s legal integrity in the eyes of the world. “We implore the Supreme Court and the National Police Chief to handle this process with utmost seriousness. This is greatly unjust to a major compliant company. Do not let our laws become a negative reflection for the international community. We are an investment company very much needed in line with President Prabowo’s directives,” Taufan concluded.
This legal battle is accompanied by pressure from the grassroots. Since yesterday until today, hundreds of PT Dua Kuda Indonesia employees have held protests in front of the Central Jakarta District Court building. They are voicing concerns over their job futures if the company, which has been financially healthy, is forced to stop operations due to a controversial legal process.