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Aussie investors complain of fraud
Panca Nugraha , The Jakarta Post , Mataram | Fri, 11/28/2008 10:51 AM | The Archipelago
An Australian couple who had intended to develop a resort in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, have been allegedly cheated out of Rp 4.2 billion (approximately US$380,000) by a local real estate agent.
Accompanied by their lawyer, Taufik Budiman, Paul Frederick Robson, 54, and Deborah Cynthia Strock, 52, lodged a report at the provincial police headquarters, hoping police would be able to resolve the case.
Taufik told reporters that his clients had bought 22 plots of land in Sekotong, West Lombok, with the intention of building a resort.
The land transaction was made through real estate agency PT TAP Mataram and the couple had transferred the money to its director, identified by the initials IBW, 36.
The couple had received land sale documents, issued by a notary public, from IBW, but when construction work was to begin, the pair became aware that the plots of land were still owned by local residents and had never been acquired by PT TAP.
"Our clients have paid PT TAP Rp 4.2 billion for the purchase of a total of 22 plots of land, but the locations were fraudulent as they are still owned by the villagers and could not be utilized," Taufik said.
Taufik's office filed a police report against the director of PT TAP, under the name of Deborah Cynthia Strock, at the end of September.
Taufik said his clients had been registered as foreign investors and held an investment license issued by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), signed by deputy of investment services Achmadi Kurniadi, dated May 30, 2008.
Based on the document, PT Sea Shanty, owned by the Australians, would build 20 cottages in West Lombok's Sekotong resort area; an investment valued at $1 million.
"However, the project has stalled due to the sham. We hope police will be serious in handling the case because we have already been dealing with them for quite a long time," he said.
Besides Paul and Deborah Robson, PT TAP has also allegedly cheated another Australian investor, Anthony Stephen Hodgkinson, 50, through the same modus operandi.
Hodgkinson bought plots of property in seven locations in Sekotong, valued at Rp 2.4 billion, through PT TAP, but they too turned out to be fraudulent.
"We only realized it when we were driven out by the land owners when we were about to start construction. They said they had never sold the land to anyone. We also reported it to the police in August, but have not received a response as of now," said Guntur, an employee of PT Sunset Beach Villa, owned by Hodgkinson.
According to Guntur, investors placed their trust in PT TAP because it had been recommended by the provincial BKPM and West Lombok regent.
The Australian investors, alongside Taufik, went to the police headquarters to inquire about further developments on the cases on Wednesday. They gave testimony to investigators, but police have yet to name a suspect.
Meanwhile on Thursday, West Nusa Tenggara Police spokesman Comr. Tribudi Pangastuti verified that police had received the complaints from the Australians.
According to him, detectives are still investigating the cases and have gathered testimony from a number of witnesses.
"We certainly follow up every report we receive and hope the public can trust us. Investigations of the cases are still underway," Tribudi said.
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Aussie (not verified), Perth — Tue, 10/20/2009 - 5:57am
word on the street is that a complaint has been made to the ATO regarding cash monies paid to Mr Paul Robson and his husband Deberoh Storke for rent paid from a certain resident in Port Hedland.Aussie (not verified), perth — Fri, 10/09/2009 - 11:46am
if the observer and other dropkick verdict would like to keep up with current events they would have known that tony has lost the criminal case and the civil case is on appeal...but i gues pedopohiles stick together don't they... i wonder if tony still visits senggigi on the weekends and sees his little indonesian girl...hmmmm.... and how is val and mike...still in la la land are they....they will be very lonley when tony is gone...and he is going....speaking of mike and val.....they still haven't paid for their villa in full yet....so they best make the most of the next few months.....cos very shortly they will be out of there....won't make much difference to val..she's so dumb she still thinks she's in perth...that woman really needs to wake up.... and please do keep watching the news papers....tony will very shortly be in them...and linne....the tv does add many pounds to the person..so sweety...try and loose a few will ya...because pictures in the paper really do add so much more...The Actual Verdict (not verified), Justice, Lombok — Wed, 10/07/2009 - 5:06pm
Mataram - Ida Bagus Wirayadi was sentenced on 18 August, 2009 to three years imprisonment by District Court judges (PN) of Mataram. Decision of the tribunal led by chairman PN Suryanto SH is higher than the demands of the public prosecutor that required two years in prison, because of the damage caused to possible future investment in Indonesia.Observer (not verified), Lombok — Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:27pm
To "Aussie" AKA Ralph Edwin Blewitt, You must be living on another planet, such as Uranus. Ida Bagus Wirayadi was jailed for 3 years on the 18th August for fraud and embezzlement. It was in at least 3 newspapers on the 19th August. The rest of your comments are also absolute bull. May I suggest that you go back to Uranus, the view is obviously better.Aussie (not verified), perth — Wed, 09/16/2009 - 5:41pm
How pathetic Anthony hodgkinson must feel now that his court case against IBW has failed. And his pathetic attempts to involve the Australian federal police with regards to christine mackinnon has also failed. Surely he must realise his time in Indonesia is very very limited. And no doubt we will be seeing anthony Hodgkinson in court himself on a number of fraud charges and defamation charges. No matter how much "administration" he pays he will not get anywhere and no matter how many times he tries to use substituted documents he attempts will always fail...a fool and his money are easily parted... Surely Linda morrison must feel quiet ashamed and embarrassed to be associated with an pathetic man who has to resort to such underhabded tactics because he was beaten at his own game....how pathetic their lives must be....couldn't make it in melbourne australia and now they were beaten in Indonesia..... As for his other co-horts such as paul robinson and his husband debroah....how stupid they must feel....everybody knew how pathetic and ridiculous these 2 were before but their involvement with anthony Hodgkinson has just proven it. and i suspect the courts will be seeing paul robson in the docks very soon...but the charges may well relate to his extra activities with the younger members of society. perhaps the Australian federal police may want to look in to that...they may find something alot more interesting than they ever expected... but if the federal police stay true to their usual approach...it will probably be to much work for them...much easier to look as though they're doing something rather than actually doing something...the AFP are a pathetic joke in Australia and now they are a pathetic joke in Asia...it's best they will stick to...um...well what ever it is they do...it's best they just stay in senggigi and do what most Aussie police officers do when they are overseas in an Asian country... it's alot easier to pick on a lady who doesn't break the law..isn't it lads...very tough and big of you...feel proud do ya? As stated by previous posters...foreigners who come to Indonesia and expect to fraud, lie and disrespect the Indonesian government and people will learn the hard way that they will be stopped. I look forward to the next chapter....Lombok 33 (not verified), Lombok — Wed, 08/12/2009 - 8:14am
Now the truth is coming out about Paul Robson. In front of me is a faxed copy of this creeps police record. Is amazing what $500 can buy you these days. No wonder your wife left you. Who would want to raise 2 little girls with a creepy person like you. I now understand how and why you ended up with a yowie like Deborah stork. This Police Record will be forwarded to the Jakarta Post. We need to rid Lombok of weirdos like you, Pack up your dirty money and disgusting mind Mr Robson and hed back to Lawson Apartments. You will have a welcoming commitee this time. I can assure you of this.Facts can hurt. (not verified) — Sun, 05/17/2009 - 10:25am
To S A.
Perhaps you could ask Ms Paul Robson if the name Peter Herrington sets off ay alarm bells i his sick little mind.
I read on.
Nah will save the rest for another time.
A clean slate with the Police now thats just not true is it Mr Storke.
Now that is interesting.
Interesting (not verified) — Sun, 05/17/2009 - 1:03am
To S A
wish i knew who the hell you were talking about here.
so he has a brother then.
last chance tavern, eagle boys. wtf.
gee he must be so proud to to have a sister like paul in his family.
paul robson has been in fremantle jail for stealing cars.
thats a fact,
i have it in black and white right in front of me.
if you like i will fax a copy of this report to the jakarta post.
and they can publish it.
i bet you arent game to fax this mysterious police clearance for publishing, coz he has a criminal record.
so stop talking rubbish.
or thats what i will do.
dont try and blame others for the misdemeanors of your little sick girlfriend paul.
now this will get interesting.
Robert P. (not verified) — Thu, 05/14/2009 - 1:17am
What an "interesting" load of shit.
Where are you now Ralph, hiding in Bali, possibly to sell your bike?
You must be running out of the money you helped rip off.
S. A. (not verified) — Wed, 05/13/2009 - 5:12pm
To Interesting,
Yes it is interesting that you should make these wild accusations. The same things you said when Paul evicted you from the complex over 2 years ago, for doing just what you are accusing him of. You were nothing but trouble. You are the sick one.
There were witnesses, but what they saw was you.
It is you who has a Police record for car stealing and drug running in Victoria. I have seen Paul's Police Clearance and he has no record whatsoever. On the other hand you have a record that goes back many years. You have always been a liar and a cheat.
Have the cops caught up with you for stealing money from the Last Chance Tavern yet? Or the money you embezzled from Eagle Boys? God knows what else.
Your comment about witnesses including blood is laughable. Thou shall not bear false witness against one's own brother, Steven Robson. I picked you immediately, because I was living in Lawson Apartments when all these things happened.