JAKARTA (TheInsiderStories) - The Astra Group’ unit, PT Acset Indonusa Tbk (IDX: ACST), sues PT China Sonangol Media Investment, the developer of Gedung Indonesia Tower-Electricity in Jakarta. The company is a joint venture between PT China Sonangol Land and the Media Group owned by businessman Surya Paloh.
Based on the Central Jakarta District Court report, beside the issuer, there also two other parties, China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp. Ltd., and PT Bintai Kindenko Engineering Indonesia as the plaintiff. The registration of the Postponement of Debt Payment Obligations is carried out on Nov. 12 and the first trial held on Nov. 23.
For background, the project of China Sonangol was received in April 2017 with a work period of 47 months. The laying of the first stone for the 303 meter-high twin building project was carried out on May 23, 2015 by President Joko Widodo. This building was planned to be directly connected to the mass rapid transit station.
Commenting on the cases, CEO of Media Group, Mirdal Akib, told reporters on Monday (11/24), emphasized that the company had absolutely nothing to do with the legal process with China Sonangol. In addition, chairman of the group, Surya Paloh, is no longer involved in the business processes of all of its subsidiaries.
“Pak Surya Paloh is not active in the company’ operations, both in the Media Group and in other business units,” he said.
Paloh’ party, Nasional Demokrat, is the major supporter of President Widodo and vice presidetn, Ma’ruf Amin. Several issues was hampered him during Widodo’ term like Sociedade National de Combustiveis de Angola EP (Sonangol EP) case in 2014.
In 2018, his main business associate, Sam Pa, the owner of Sonangol EP, was arrested by a Chinese police in Beijing on bribery case to Fujian province governor Su Shulin with allegations of serious disciplinary violations. For Widodo and Paloh, the Chinese businessman, is not and ordinary people.
The president even signed his first signature as president for bilateral cooperation between the Indonesian government and Sonangol EP. On May 23, 2015, Widodo also gave a special attention to the construction of the Indonesian Building 1 with total investment reached Rp8 trillion (US$567.37 million).
In 2017, Indonesian government has agreed to a 100 thousand barrel purchase of crude oil from Sonangol. Indonesia is promised a discount of 15 percent of the market price. But the discount has never been realized.
US$1: Rp14,100
Written by Editorial Staff, Email: theinsiderstories@gmail.com
