TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Briton to report dispute to National Police
Frustrated by the way the Bali Police have handled his case, a Briton plans to bring his land dispute to the National Police
Change Size
Frustrated by the way the Bali Police have handled his case, a Briton plans to bring his land dispute to the National Police.
"My next strategy is to bring the case to the National Police because the Bali Police did nothing to help me get my money back," Nicholas John Hyam told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
He said he would hire a group of four lawyers but had not yet decided which lawyers, due to financial constraints as a result of the case.
The land dispute started in 2005 after Hyam bought 28 are of land in Pererenan village, North Kuta, for Rp 36.6 billion (US$31.1 million).
He said he was cheated by his then lawyer Rizaldi Deciderus Watruty. At the time Hyam appointed Rizaldi as the land's nominee pending the completion of his Foreign Direct Investment (PMA) document.
"I thought he was very kind because he let me use his name to buy the land.
"He asked me to pay $5,000 for the PMA, but I have still not received it. He stole my money," Hyam said Sunday.
The legal land procurement agreement was made between Rizaldi and Reinta Sortaria Situmorang, the previous land owner.
Hyam was told the Bali Police was still waiting for the previous owner to testify, but he doubted this would eventuate as the man's name was not printed on any documents.
The problem continued until Hyam heard that Rizaldi, who had his name on the certificate letter as the owner, approached land agents about selling the land.
Rizaldi denied the accusation of stealing his client's money, saying that Hyam was the one who created trouble for him during the land procurement process.
"I helped him by being his nominee! But in return, he reported me to the police for fraud and embezzlement, which I never did," he told the Post by phone on Sunday.
Hyam admitted that he failed to pay the last installment of the property purchase on time because he had to wait for the sale of his property in the United Kingdom.
He had to pay $400,000 in penalties as stated in the agreement, which he refused to do because it was too much.
Hyam said Rizaldi refused to give him the land certificate, while Rizaldi said the Briton refused to pay his fee as a nominee and a legal consultant, so he went to the notary to cancel the contract.
