DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Former Head of the Bali Regional Office of the National Land Agency (BPN), I Made Daging, is preparing legal action against parties allegedly involved in the use of a disputed document in the case against him. The move follows a ruling by a single judge at the Denpasar District Court declaring his detention unlawful on Tuesday (October 13, 2026).
After being released from the Bali Regional Police’s Detention and Evidence Directorate, Made Daging proceeded to the Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) to follow up on the legal issues he has raised.
In the pretrial ruling, single judge Kadek Dedy Arcana declared that Detention Order Number SP.Han/31/IX/WJA/Ditreskrimsus/1.24/2026/Ditreskrimsus, dated September 16, 2026, was unlawful and had no binding legal force. The judge also ordered Made Daging’s immediate release from detention.
However, the ruling did not invalidate his suspect designation, which the court declared lawful.
Made Daging said he respected the judge’s decision and would continue to follow the legal process. He also said he intended to exercise his legal rights by reporting the alleged use of a document whose authenticity and accuracy he believes require further examination.
The disputed document is a certificate issued by the Head of Jimbaran Village in 1985. Made Daging claims that two versions of the certificate contain differences in handwriting, particularly in the section identifying the western boundary of a parcel of land as Tanah DP Balangan.
According to Made Daging, comparison documents obtained from BPN include approximately 10 to 11 other records identifying the western boundary of the disputed land as the sea or the Bali Strait.
“What we are reporting is the use of a document suspected of being forged,” said Gede Pasek Suardika, Made Daging’s lawyer, explaining the legal action being prepared.
Pasek clarified that his client’s complaint does not primarily concern the issuance of the document in 1985, but rather its alleged use during the investigation and in official police examination records, known in Indonesia as Berita Acara Pemeriksaan (BAP).
He claimed that his legal team had submitted comparison documents during the proceedings but believed the information had not been adequately addressed.
According to Pasek, the disputed document must be examined to establish its authenticity and determine whether it is relevant and admissible as evidence in the case against his client.
He also said the defense possessed several comparison documents, including court rulings, pipil land records, and village certificates. However, the authenticity and evidentiary value of those documents remain subject to verification through the legal process.
Lawyer Questions Use of Disputed Document in Police Examination
Pasek said the document issue had emerged during earlier stages of the case. He alleged that his team had raised objections during the examination process, yet the same document continued to be used.
He reiterated that the planned report would focus on the alleged use of a document suspected of being forged, rather than solely on the document’s original issuance decades ago.
“If the other party maintains that the document is genuine, let them prove it. We have several comparison documents, not just one,” Pasek said.
He added that his team was prepared to pursue legal proceedings to establish the document’s authenticity. He emphasized that the allegations should be tested through the legal system rather than resolved through competing claims.
As of publication, no official response from the original complainant or the Bali Regional Police regarding the alleged discrepancies and the planned report had been included in the available information.
Made Daging Says He Slept on Plywood Flooring for 28 Days
In addition to outlining his planned legal action, Made Daging described his experience during 28 days in detention.
He said he slept on the floor with a sheet of plywood as bedding while in custody. Nevertheless, he described the treatment he received from officers at the Bali Regional Police as professional and humane.
According to Made Daging, officers allowed him time to pray and communicate with his family in accordance with the visitation schedule.
He acknowledged that detention had been a difficult psychological experience but said he had tried to accept the situation and adapt to the circumstances.
Made Daging also said his detention had kept him away from his official duties for nearly a month. Following his release, he plans to return to Jakarta to resume his responsibilities within the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN).
“I still have responsibilities and duties to carry out as an official at the Ministry of ATR/BPN,” he said.
Suspect Status Remains in Force
The pretrial ruling declaring Made Daging’s detention unlawful does not automatically invalidate his designation as a suspect. The underlying criminal case must therefore continue to be assessed through the applicable legal process and the available evidence.
Meanwhile, the allegations concerning the use of the disputed document, raised by Made Daging and his lawyer, constitute a separate legal matter requiring further examination.
The planned report does not, by itself, establish that another party committed forgery. Determining the document’s authenticity and whether a criminal offense occurred remains the responsibility of the relevant law enforcement authorities based on the results of their investigation.
The case now involves two ongoing legal issues: the continuation of proceedings against Made Daging and his legal team’s planned report concerning the disputed document.
