The South Jakarta District Court ruled in favor of Kalibata City apartment residents on Wednesday in a lawsuit against the building’s management and developer over electricity and water hikes.  

The panel of judges, led by Ferry Agustina Budi Utami, found the parties in charge of determining the tariffs -- PT Pradani Sukses Abadi, the developer of Kalibata City, PT Prima Buana Internusa, the company that manages the building, and a management body -- guilty of marking up residents' electricity and water bills.

They were ordered to pay compensation of Rp 23 million (US$1,610) to the 13 residents who filed the lawsuit.

Ferry said the developer, Pradani Sukses Abadi, had been involved in the mark-up because it knew about the tariffs requested by the management body.

“The residents have proven their lawsuit. Therefore, we [judges] grant request number two in the lawsuit,” she said, referring to the residents’ request for the court to declare that the bodies had committed an unlawful act.

The judges also condemned the management body, which failed to engage residents in determining tariffs for water and electricity.

Built and managed by the two subsidiaries of property giant Agung Podomoro Land, Kalibata City became a pioneer in apartment projects that were commercially marketed to the capital's middle class in 2008. 

Poor management, however, has plagued the apartment compound over the years, resulting in maintenance issues and crime, such as prostitution. (wit)