Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has suspended three of its members over allegations they intimidated and extorted the investors of PT China Chengda Engineering in Cilegon, Banten.
“We regret the actions of the Cilegon Kadin officials and support the legal measures taken by the Banten Regional Police,” the chair of Kadin Indonesia, Anindya Novyan Bakrie, said in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.
He added that Kadin will respect the legal proceedings initiated against its members in Banten, the westernmost province on the island of Java, and support the legal actions taken by the Banten Regional Police.
While respecting the presumption of innocence, Kadin has suspended the three members until a final court decision is issued in the case.
Kadin also expressed regret over the May 9, 2025, incident, when the three members reportedly went to the office of PT Chengda, the main contractor for the construction of PT Chandra Asri Alkali’s plant in Cilegon, to inquire about a previously made promise.
While speaking with the PT Chengda management, the Kadin members appear to have resorted to intimidation and extortion, Bakrie said.
“Kadin regrets the incident as it has caused unnecessary turmoil,” he added.
As reported earlier, the chairperson of Kadin Cilegon, identified by the initials MS, was named a suspect in the case on Friday evening by investigators from Sub-Directorate 1 of the National Security, Directorate of General Criminal Investigation, Banten Regional Police.
The investigators also named the deputy chairperson of Kadin for industry in Cilegon, identified as IA, and the chairperson of the Indonesian Fishermen’s Association (HNSI) in Cilegon, identified as RZ, as suspects in the case.
The suspects allegedly demanded to be involved in the project to build a chlor alkali-ethylene dichloride (CA-EDC) plant in Cilegon, Banten. The plant belongs to PT Chandra Asri Alkali (CAA), a subsidiary of PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk.
The CA-EDC plant is being constructed with an investment of Rp15 trillion (about US$909.72 million) and is categorized as a national strategic project.
