Sinar Mas Group: Freddy Widjaja's Claim Regarding Inheritance, Does Not Have A Legal Basis

Managing Director of Sinar Mas Group, Gandi Sulistiyanto. (Photo: Sinar Mas)

JAKARTA - Sinar Mas Group stated that the inheritance rights lawsuit filed by Freddy Widjaja, the son of the late Eka Tjipta Widjaja's marriage to Lidia Herawaty Rusli, had no legal basis. Managing Director of Sinar Mas Group, Gandi Sulistiyanto, said that as the founder of Sinar Mas Group, Eka Tjipta did not own shares in companies whose assets were being sued by Freddy.

"Brother Freddy Widjaja's lawsuit against the assets of Sinar Mas companies has nothing to do with the late Eka Tjipta Widjaja. Because he (Eka Tjipta) did not own shares in these companies, his lawsuit has no legal basis," he said, when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 15.

Gandi also emphasized that the problem of the lawsuit over Eka Tjipta's inheritance rights from Freddy was not a matter directly related to the company. The lawsuit is a matter of Eka Tjipta's family.

"This problem is a family problem of Mr. Eka Tjipta Widjaja, but it is not a legal problem for the companies or business units under Sinar Mas. So basically Sinar Mas has nothing to do with the family matter of Mr. Eka Tjipta Widjaja in this lawsuit case," he explained.

Moreover, said Gandi, the problems in Eka Tjipta's family had actually been resolved amicably. Eka Tjipta, as the heir, has included the name of the former Asian Agri Director in his will.

"That the person concerned has received his share as the recipient of the will. In accordance with the will of the late Eka Tjipta Widjaja," he said.

However, Gandi was reluctant to elaborate on what inheritance rights were received in Eka Tjipta's will.

"I don't know. It's a family matter," he said.

In addition, Gandi confirmed that the figure of Freddy Widjaja was a child outside the marriage of Eka Tjipta Widjaja with Lidia Herawaty Rusli. The two married in Buddhism on October 3, 1967, but were not registered at the Civil Registry Office.

From the couple's marriage, Freddy Widjaja was born on October 30, 1968. Apart from Freddy Widjaja, the other children of the couple, namely Robbin Widjaja and Sindy Widjaja.

"(It's true) that Freddy Widjaja's brother is the illegitimate child of Mrs. Lidia Herawaty Rusli," he said.

Freddy Sues

For your information, Freddy Widjaja, son of the founder of Sinar Mas Group Eka Tjipta Widjaja, sued for the inheritance rights of his five half brothers at the Central Jakarta District Court.

The lawsuit is registered with case number 301 / Pdt.G / 2020 / PN Jkt.Pst against Indra Widjaja, Teguh Ganda Widjaja, Muktar Widjaja, Djafar Widjaja, and Franky Oesman Widjaja.

Freddy asked the panel of judges for the right to share half of his father's inheritance. There are 12 disputed companies with a total asset value of around Rp. 672.61 trillion.

In the petitum, Freddy stated that he and his five half brothers were the legitimate heirs of the late Eka Tjipta. On this basis, Freddy asked to share the inheritance of each half between himself and the defendant.

The following is a list of inheritance in question according to the petitum, namely:

1. PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Tbk (SMAR) with a total asset value of IDR 29.31 trillion and a 2018 gross profit of IDR 4.63 trillion.

2. PT Sinar Mas Multi Artha Tbk (SMMA) with a total asset value of IDR 100.66 trillion and a 2018 gross profit of IDR 1.64 trillion.

3. Sinar Mas Land with a total asset value of US $ 7.75 billion in 2019, with an exchange rate according to the petitum of Rp. 15,000 per US dollar, which is equivalent to Rp. 116.36 trillion.

4. PT Bank Sinar Mas Tbk (BSIM) with a total asset value in September 2019 amounting to IDR 37.39 trillion.

5. PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk (INTP) with a total asset value of 2018 of US $ 8.7 billion, at an exchange rate of Rp. 15,000 per US dollar, which is equivalent to Rp. 131.26 trillion.

6. PT Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia Tbk (TKIM) with assets of 2.96 billion US dollars, with an exchange rate of IDR 15,000 per US dollar, which is equivalent to IDR 44.47 trillion.

7. PT Lontar Papyrus Pulp & Paper Industry with a total asset value in 2018 of 1.99 million US dollars, with an exchange rate of IDR 15,000 per US dollar, the equivalent of IDR 29.96 trillion.

8. PT Bank China Construction Bank Indonesia Tbk (MCOR) with a total asset value of IDR 16.2 trillion.

9. Asia Food and Properties Limited with an estimated asset value of IDR 80 trillion.

10.China Renewable Energy Investment Limited with a total asset value in 2019 of 2.79 million Hong Kong dollars, at an exchange rate of IDR 1,900, the value is equivalent to IDR 5.3 trillion.

11. PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk (GEMS) with a total asset value in 2019 of US $ 780.6 million, at an exchange rate of Rp.15,000 per US dollar, which is equivalent to Rp.11.70 trillion.

12. Paper Excellence BV Netherlands with a total asset value of IDR 70 trillion.