PRIME NEWS POST
The INDONESIAN,(Jakarta) —Allegations of a land mafia, which for years have loomed over the prime super-premium tourism destination of Labuan Bajo, are now entering a critical phase. The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Dittipidum) under the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has officially launched an investigation into alleged document forgery and abuse of authority.
The probe concerns the issuance of several Certificates of Ownership (SHM) in the Keranga area, Labuan Bajo Subdistrict, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
“This is no longer merely a standard administrative land dispute. Investigators from Bareskrim are now tracing the alleged involvement of various parties, ranging from certificate holders, customary leaders, subdistrict officials, to officers at the West Manggarai Land Office,” said Jon Kadis, Legal Counsel to the heirs of the late Ibrahim Hanta (IH), in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, on Saturday (23/5/2026).
This legal action is formalized in official letters from Dittipidum Bareskrim Polri, numbered B/2061/VI/RES.1.9/2026/Dittipidum and B/2062/VI/RES.1.9/2026/Dittipidum, dated 13 May 2026.
In these letters, two officials from the West Manggarai Land Office — Stepanus Kakut and Konstantinus Lalu — have been summoned to Jakarta to provide clarification regarding the issuance process of several SHMs in the Keranga area.
“Investigators have explicitly stated they are looking into allegations of document forgery, complicity in criminal acts, and abuse of authority during the land certificate issuance process in Labuan Bajo Subdistrict,” Jon Kadis noted.
Investigations are focusing specifically on SHM Number 02545 issued in the name of Maria Fatmawyat Naput and SHM Number 02549 issued in the name of Paulus Grans Naput, both granted by the West Manggarai Land Office on 31 January 2017.
During the inquiry, Bareskrim investigators uncovered a number of documents allegedly used as the basis for issuing these certificates. One document currently under scrutiny is the Proof of Customary Land Transfer dated 10 March 1990, signed by Ishaka and Haku Mustafa — acting as customary officials and elders — transferring land rights to Nasar Bin Haji Supu.
“Furthermore, investigators are also examining the Statement of Physical Land Control, prepared by Paulus Grans Naput, witnessed by Ramang Ishaka and Muhammad Syair, and acknowledged by the then-Head of Labuan Bajo Subdistrict, Abdul Ipur,” Jon Kadis revealed.
Other individuals named in the investigation documents include Erwin Kadiman Santosa (also known as Santosa Kadiman), Maria Fatmawati Naput, Paulus Grans Naput, as well as a number of employees at the West Manggarai Land Office and other parties suspected of involvement.
“Investigators from Unit II, Sub-directorate IV of Dittipidum Bareskrim Polri are currently conducting inquiries into alleged criminal acts of document forgery and abuse of authority,” stated an excerpt from the official letter, as conveyed by Jon Kadis.
According to available information, Stepanus Kakut is scheduled to provide clarification at the Bareskrim Polri Office in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, at 11:00 AM (Western Indonesia Time). Meanwhile, Konstantinus Lalu has been asked to appear one day earlier, on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, also at 11:00 AM.
Alleged Duplicate Documents Uncovered
A complainant identified by the initial S stated that the investigation is beginning to unravel what they describe as the “malicious land scheme in Keranga,” which has long been concealed.
According to the source, there are serious irregularities regarding the foundational documents used to issue five SHMs under the Naput family’s names.
“The crooked dealings regarding land in Keranga, Labuan Bajo, are starting to be exposed. The customary land deed dated 10 March 1990 — used as the basis for applications for five Certificates of Ownership in the names of Johanis Vans Naput, Maria F. Naput, Paulus Grans Naput, and associates — appears to have no original version,” the source told this media outlet on Saturday (23/5/2026).
The complainant also revealed indications that different documents were used during land measurement activities conducted by the West Manggarai Land Office (BPN) at the Keranga site.
“During the measurement process carried out by BPN West Manggarai in Keranga, the document signed and validated by Haji Ramang Ishaka and Muhammad Syair referenced a different customary land deed — one dated 21 October 1991,” they said.
The discovery of two distinct documents is considered a crucial lead for investigators seeking to uncover alleged administrative manipulation that, for years, has reportedly served as the legal basis for land control in the Keranga coastal area.
Customary Land Deed Under Question
Complainant S also questioned the validity of the Customary Land Deed dated 21 October 1991, issued in the name of Beatrix Seran Nggebu, noting that it fails to clearly state the land area.
“How is it possible that the customary land deed dated 21 October 1991, issued to Beatrix Seran Nggebu, contains no indication of land size? Meanwhile, all previous customary land deeds from 1990 did specify areas. For example, the deed dated 10 March 1990 clearly states 16 hectares,” the complainant argued.
They viewed the decision by the Labuan Bajo Subdistrict Government on 6 May 2026 to revoke that land deed as a correct measure, given the document’s administrative irregularities.
“It is only proper and appropriate that the customary land deed dated 21 October 1991, issued to Beatrix Seran Nggebu, was cancelled by the Labuan Bajo Subdistrict Government on 6 May 2026. The reasons cited were the absence of land area details, overlapping boundary descriptions — particularly regarding the northern limit — and inconsistencies with the actual land location,” the complainant emphasized.
“Labuan Bajo Is Being Ruined by the Land Mafia”
Strong criticism has also come from Florianus Adu, also known as Ferri Adu. He described the problematic land transactions in Keranga as a time bomb that has damaged the investment climate in Labuan Bajo for over a decade.
“I deeply regret the existence of such land transaction practices. The impact has been extremely detrimental and has caused Labuan Bajo to be shunned by investors for roughly the past 15 years, especially in the Keranga Beach area,” he said.
Ferri, who has also been questioned by Bareskrim as a witness, expressed full support for law enforcement measures against parties allegedly involved in the land mafia network operating in Labuan Bajo.
“During my examination at Bareskrim, I made it clear that the individuals behind these land schemes that are destroying Labuan Bajo must be severely punished in accordance with the Indonesian Criminal Code. This issue has caused hardship, unrest, and embarrassment to the people of Labuan Bajo over the last 15 years, all due to a malicious conspiracy orchestrated by the land mafia,” he stated.
This investigation by the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency has now become a major focus of public attention in West Manggarai. After years of lingering in dispute tables and courtrooms, the Keranga land case is finally revealing serious criminal allegations: document forgery, abuse of authority, and the possible involvement of a mafia network suspected of operating behind the sky-high land prices in Labuan Bajo’s strategic zones.
@Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper
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