Head of the Bali Land Mafia Task Force Reveals a Shocking Fact: Notaries and Lawyers Participate in the Game

Photo: Special

BALI - The land mafia in Bali is not just a gang of thugs with reckless capital. Behind it there is a neat network involving notaries, advocates, even PPAT officials.

This was said by the Head of the Land Mafia Task Force and Head of the BPN Bali Conflict Management and Handling Division, Hardiansyah.

"The land mafia is a group that has a certain goal to capitalize on land. They never stand alone - at least three parties, and there is always a symbiosis of mutualism between them," said Hardiansyah.

From the cases handled throughout 2025, Hardiansyah revealed the modus that he himself called with a sarcastic tone as "a cool design."

The trick: the syndicate gets information about the land certificate belonging to someone else, then makes a false loss report at the police, completes supporting documents at the local government, and applies for a replacement certificate to BPN.

The original certificate is still in the hands of the owner - but a replacement certificate has been issued in their name.

More shockingly, notaries and lawyers are not victims in this scheme. They are part of the scheme.

"The lawyer, the notary - that's what we investigated. As a result, they are now objects of investigation and the process is complete," said Hardiansyah.

Bali, which is a magnet for foreign investment, also has its own pitfalls.

Hardiansyah drew a line that is rarely explained to the public: most foreign investors who are harmed are not victims of the land mafia - they are victims of ordinary fraud. And the difference is fatal legally.

"If it is still person to person, it is still a category of fraud. It only enters the land mafia classification when it involves many parties and enters the land administration realm," he said.

He told a case of a PMA that was handled last year.

A foreign investor gives power to local residents to handle land permits.

"The power is abused - it is used to seem to transfer ownership. Money changes hands. Land does not.

"This PMA came to take over the land, it couldn't. Because the land owner never gave the authority to transfer," said Hardiansyah.

The suspect is now in prison. But his investment is still stuck.

In the midst of all the complications, Hardiansyah offers a solution that is almost too simple to believe.

Before buying land in Bali, just open Bhumi ATR/BPN - free, accessible from anywhere, without having to go to the office.

Basic information on ownership, area, and certificate status is available there. For direct verification at the BPN office, including potential overlap and case status, the cost is not up to Rp. 50,000.

"Don't be too trusting of the lure of cheap prices and appeals that everything can be resolved without checking the legality of the land yourself," he said.

One small step. One click. Sometimes that's the difference between a smooth investment - and one that ends up in a courtroom.