UBUD, mybalinews.com – Bali Police have arrested a German national who led Parq Ubud, a villa and apartment complex that include restaurant café, co-working space and many other facilities in Ubud that recently shut down.
The German man, AF (53), has been named as suspect in a case involving illegal land conversion at Parq Ubud, a development also known as the ‘Russian Village’ located on Jalan Sriwedari, Tegallalang, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali.
AF was taken into custody on January 17, 2025. He faces charges related to the unlawful conversion of protected agricultural land and rice fields, a violation of Indonesian laws regulating sustainable agriculture and the protection of agricultural land.
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Bali Police Chief Inspo. Gen. Pol Daniel Adityajaya confirmed that the investigation, which began in October 2024, was prompted by public reports. Authorities found that AF had been using land in protected agricultural zones to build a villa, a spa center, and an animal farm without government permits.
“The suspect’s motive appears to be economic, and his actions involve the development of a tourism facility on land designated for agriculture and rice cultivation,” said Adityajaya during a press briefing on Friday (24/1).
“The construction was carried out without the proper authorization, violating the laws governing land use,’ he added.
According to the police, the land involved spans over 6 hectares, with approximately 1.8 hectares being converted illegally from protected rice fields (LSD) and sustainable agricultural land (LP2B). The remainder of the land falls within a tourism zone.
The Bali Police, after interviewing staff and witnesses, found 34 land certificates (SHM) associated with the development. These were coordinated with the Gianyar Regency’s Public Works and Spatial Planning Department to map the land use, which revealed a combination of agricultural and tourism zones within the Parq Ubud area.
Parq Ubud, operational since 2020, was shut down permanently by the Gianyar Regency Government on January 20, 2025, following legal action. Meanwhile, the villa district, built on protected agricultural land, has been under investigation since October 2024.
Suspect faces serious charges
AF, who also admitted to leasing the land from local owners, is charged under two key laws: Law No. 22/2019 on sustainable agriculture and Law No. 41/2009 on the protection of agricultural land. If found guilty, he could faces up to 5 years in prison and up tp Rp 1 billion of fine.
The police are continuing their investigation and have confirmed that the Gianyar Regency Government has revoked the investment permits for the development. The case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for land protection and illegal tourism development in Bali.
The investigation involves 28 witnesses, including government officials, experts, and landowners, and the case remains under the jurisdiction of the Bali Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate. (mybalinews/KAD)ERV)
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