Never Paying Debt, Government Ready to Confiscate Lapindo’s Assets

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Director General of State Assets (DJKN) Rionald Silaban is preparing to confiscate PT . assets Lapindo Minarak Jaya (LMJ).

Confiscation was carried out due to payment debt for the bailout funds from the government for the victims of the Lapindo Mudflow that have not been paid by PT Lapindo Minarak Jaya (LMJ) belonging to the Bakrie family.

“Basically we have asked an appraiser to conduct an assessment of the land, just in case the person concerned cannot pay and we have to accept the land,” said Rionald in a joint hearing with Commission XI DPR RI, Wednesday (26/1/2022).

Also read: The Ministry of Finance is looking for the right formula to collect Lapindo’s debt

Currently, Rionald has asked the appraisal team to assess the land assets, including whether the land is valuable or otherwise.

However, his party prefers that PT LMJ pay its debts, so that the bailout money belongs to the government back.

“We have asked the appraiser to do it. But basically we want to get a refund from the government,” said Rionald.

The man who is familiarly called Rio also explained that he would further investigate the issue of lithium content in the Lapindo Mud. Initially, this discovery was a research from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya.

Also read: The Bakrie Family’s Debt Circle to the State, from Lapindo to BLBI

“Basically, at a later time we will collect and we will see whether the land is really worth it or not. If the land has no value, then whatever the difference is, we will charge it,” said Rio.

For information, according to an audit by the State Audit Board (BPK) in 2019, the government recorded that Lapindo Brantas and Minarak’s total debt to the government was Rp. 1.91 trillion as of December 31, 2019.

In detail, the amount of debt consists of principal debt of Rp. 773.38 billion, interest of Rp. 163.95 billion, and fine of Rp. 981.42 billion.

Meanwhile, the payment made by the company in December 2018 was IDR 5 billion. Debt created because the government provided bailout funds worth Rp. 773.8 billion to pay off the purchase of land and buildings for the victims of the mudflow lapindo, Sidoarjo.

Also read: Regarding Debt of IDR 1.9 Trillion, Lapindo Sends a Letter to the Government

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