BALINEWSID.COM, KARANGASEM — The Bali High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Bali) has confirmed that the alleged land swap (ruilslag) case linked to the PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID) project has entered the stage of general investigation, marking a significant escalation in the legal process.

The statement was delivered by Head of Special Crimes Operations Control at Kejati Bali, Anak Agung Ngurah Jayalantara, during a field inspection in Banjar Dinas Badeg Dukuh, Sebudi Village, Selat District, Karangasem Regency, on Wednesday (May 6).

“This is already under general investigation, ongoing since early 2025. It is part of the Green Open Space (RTH) certification under PT BTID,” Jayalantara said.

He emphasized that the investigation is not limited to a single plot of land but covers the entire chain of issues related to land certificates and the land swap process associated with BTID.

“We are not only focusing on the 16 certificates. We are examining everything comprehensively,” he added.

As part of the investigation, Kejati Bali is currently gathering evidence, questioning witnesses, and verifying the history and legal status of land parcels involved in the ruilslag scheme.

“Our objective is to obtain objective and valid data to avoid errors in legal analysis, especially concerning the total land area involved,” Jayalantara explained.

To ensure consistency between administrative records and actual field conditions, the prosecutors conducted joint inspections with several relevant agencies, including the Bali office of the National Land Agency (BPN), the Forest Area Consolidation Agency (BPKH), the East Bali Forest Management Unit (KPH), and the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Agency.

In Sebudi Village, approximately 12 hectares of land divided into three blocks were inspected. Meanwhile, the total land involved in the swap scheme across Karangasem is estimated at around 40.2 hectares.

Despite ongoing field verification, Kejati Bali has not yet reached any conclusions regarding the legal status of the land.

“We still do not know whether the land originates from private ownership titles (SHM), conversion processes, or other histories. The verification is ongoing, and we will rely on the available data,” he said.

Jayalantara acknowledged that the investigation is complex, particularly due to historical disputes over forest boundaries involving the Forest Area Consolidation Agency.

“It is not as simple as it seems, especially since there have been previous issues regarding forest boundaries with BPKH,” he noted.

Preliminary findings indicate that the exchange land is located approximately three kilometers from the slopes of Mount Agung and falls within a forest area managed by the East Bali Forest Management Unit. The site is currently covered with coffee plants, bamboo, and other forest vegetation.

The condition has drawn public attention, raising concerns that state land or forest areas may have been included in the land swap scheme linked to BTID.

Responding to the concerns, Kejati Bali stressed that the investigation is being carried out objectively and based strictly on legal facts.

“If it is wrong, it will be declared wrong. If it is right, it will be declared right. We are seeking the truth based on data and facts in the field,” Jayalantara asserted.