"We have prevented losses of Rp6 trillion from the state and the people's fund through our anti-land mafia operations," Yudhoyono stated at Bandung-based Padjadjaran University's Law Faculty Dies Natalis ceremony here on Thursday.
The minister highlighted that the government had prevented a land mafia action in Grobogan District, Central Java, which could potentially cause Rp3.4 trillion (US$221.8 million) in losses.
"We have prevented Rp3.4 trillion losses (from a case) in Grobogan alone," he emphasized.
Yudhoyono stated that the case in Grobogan reflected that the land mafia if left unaddressed, would cause significant losses when investors backtracked from funding the regional development.
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"When they are ready for investments, but their land documents were forged, their investments will not proceed as planned," the minister pointed out.
Hence, Yudhoyono reiterated the ministry's resolve to eradicate the land mafia and affirmed that his side would collaborate with the national police, the attorney general's office, and regional stakeholders.
The anti-land mafia operation will also target ministry officials involved in the crime, he said, adding that he has named some individuals as the operation target.
"As this is not an easy task, we expect residents to report any cases caused by the land mafia to us," he remarked.
President Joko Widodo also noted last April that the land mafia practice in Indonesia has decreased in the last decade in line with the government's consistency in increasing the distribution of land ownership certificates to rightful owners.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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