Officials Arrested Regarding Land Mafia Case, Palembang BPN Office Services Still Operate

The atmosphere of the Palembang BPN Office, South Sumatra, Friday 15 July. (ANTARA-M Riezko BE)

PALEMBANG - Officials from the State Land Agency (BPN) of Palembang City have just been arrested by the police in connection with a land mafia syndicate. Activities at the regional BPN office continue to run normally.

The Palembang BPN office on Jalan Captain A. Rivai, Kelurahan 26 Ilir, Ilir Barat I District, was observed to be quite crowded with people on Friday, July 15 afternoon. However, it is still under strict guard from security officers.

Head of the Division for Determination of Rights for the Palembang BPN Office, Feri Fadly, said that his party will continue to serve all the needs of the community regarding land or land administration and the like at the office.

"Yes, but we make sure that BPN Palembang's service activities will continue as normal, people can come to fulfill administrative needs or the like," he said when confirmed via telephone line, Friday, July 15.

Upon the arrest of the Head of the Palembang BPN, Norman Subowo, he hoped that the alleged case that ensnared his leader could soon be clarified and the person concerned and his family would be given health.

"Yes, that's true, but we will convey further information soon. Please support your prayers, so that you will be given health," he said.

Meanwhile, based on information gathered from the police, the Head of the Palembang BPN Regional Office, Norman Subowo, was arrested after being named a suspect by Polda Metro Jaya investigators on Thursday, July 14.

Norman Subowo, who also served as Head of Measurement Infrastructure at the Bekasi Regency BPN Office, was named a suspect in the case of the alleged issuance of field maps based on false markings in Bekasi Regency 2016-2017.

Norman was named a suspect along with two other people, namely RS (58) as a West Bandung BPN official as well as a former Head of Measurement and Mapping at the Bekasi Regency BPN Office and PS (59) a former Measurement Coordinator for the Bekasi BPN Office.

The suspects have been detained by investigators of the Harda Sub-Directorate of the Ditreskrimum Polda Metro Jaya for further investigation of the alleged land mafia case that ensnared the three.