Jakarta – Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, underlined his commitment to resolving land mafia issues by forming a cross-institutional committee that includes members of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
“We will solve the land mafia concerns, and we have agreed to form a cross-institutional committee, including (KPK) members, to undertake the procedure and assessment (for the cases),” Mahfud said in the Presidential Palace on Monday.
He also stated that the government and law enforcement will prosecute anyone participating in land mafia activities.
“We will be strong if any criminal indications are discovered, since we will work from the ground up. The Attorney General’s Office will vigorously investigate (the cases), and we will continue to seek justice in civil court even after the criminal court judgement is legally binding “According to the coordinating minister.
Land mafias have illegally acquired land plots legitimately owned by individuals and the government, according to Mahfud, who added that the government also acknowledged that in some circumstances, land mafias won court proceedings brought up by rightful owners to restore their land.
“The landowner never sells his or her land, and the land is already in the name of the other individual. When they questioned the problem, (the mafia) instructed them to settle it in court, but when they fought (for their property piece) in court, they lost. This happens rather frequently “He made a remark.
The coordinating minister also emphasized President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi) directive to address residents’ land issues and settle all payments for land seized by the government from homeowners.
“The president has commanded that (the government) must be firm in defending the people’s rights,” he said, adding that “the state will also obey any regulations that tell the government to pay for the land.”
In recent months, the police and the Attorney General’s Office have conducted investigations into illegal land grabs carried out by land mafias.
Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, had stated that 63 land mafia cases remained unresolved as of 2021.
He stated that among the 63 cases discovered by the authorities, some of the criminals’ methods included document fabrication, unlawful land occupancy, and courtroom manipulation.