Keppel land dispute over Jakarta plots heads to Indonesia's Supreme Court after fresh appeal
A legal dispute over land ownership in Jakarta involving a Keppel subsidiary has moved to Indonesia's Supreme Court after claimant Tumpal Hutabarat filed a cassation appeal. The case follows two court rulings declaring the lawsuit inadmissible earlier in 2026.
- The Jakarta land dispute has advanced to Indonesia's Supreme Court through a cassation appeal.
- Two lower courts previously ruled the claimant's lawsuit inadmissible and ordered payment of court costs.
- Keppel maintains the appeal will not materially affect its business or financial performance.
INDONESIA: A long-running legal dispute over the ownership of land plots in Jakarta involving a Keppel subsidiary has advanced to Indonesia's highest court after the claimant filed a cassation appeal seeking to overturn earlier court rulings.
In a filing dated 27 June 2026, Keppel said claimant Tumpal Hutabarat had lodged a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia through the South Jakarta District Court.
The latest move comes after two consecutive legal victories for the Singapore-listed company earlier this year.
Hutabarat is seeking 2.28 trillion rupiah (US$127.6 million) in compensation while also asking the court to recognise him as the legal owner of the disputed land plots and order the return of any unused land.
Appeal follows two favourable rulings
The South Jakarta District Court ruled in February 2026 that the lawsuit was inadmissible and ordered Hutabarat to pay court costs.
Hutabarat subsequently appealed the decision, but the High Court of DKI Jakarta upheld the lower court's ruling in May 2026, similarly finding the lawsuit inadmissible.
The High Court also ordered the claimant to bear the court costs.
Despite the two rulings, Hutabarat has now sought a final review through a cassation appeal before Indonesia's Supreme Court.
Ownership claims disputed
According to Keppel, Hutabarat claims ownership rights over land owned by its wholly owned subsidiary, Kepland Investama, and commenced civil proceedings against the company and other parties.
The disputed land measures approximately 24,500 sq m and overlaps with land on which the International Financial Centre (IFC) Jakarta Tower 2 building complex is located.
Keppel said Hutabarat's claim is based on his possession of a document known as a "girik", which he obtained around 1954.
However, the company said possession of a girik is not recognised as proof of land ownership under Indonesian Agrarian Law.
Kepland disputed the allegations, stating that it acquired ownership rights to the disputed land plots on 1 December 2000 and holds the land certificates covering the properties.
"KepLand's Indonesian counsel maintains its opinion that Kepland's land certificates are the strongest proof of ownership in accordance with Indonesian Agrarian Law," Keppel said in its filing.
Company sees no material impact
The dispute was first disclosed by Keppel in March 2025 after Hutabarat commenced legal proceedings alleging ownership rights over the Jakarta land plots.
Despite the latest appeal, Keppel said it does not expect the cassation proceedings to have any material impact on the group's operations or overall financial performance.
The company added that it would continue updating shareholders on any material developments relating to the ongoing court proceedings as appropriate.
