Sugianto Kusuma
Sugianto Kusuma | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 10, 1951 Palembang, Indonesia |
| Other names | Aguan |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Proprietor of Agung Sedayu Group and Erajaya Group |
Sugianto Kusuma, also known by the nickname Aguan (; born 10 January 1951 in Palembang), is a prominent Indonesian entrepreneur. He is the proprietor of Agung Sedayu Group as well as the Erajaya Group, both recognized among Indonesia's leading property development companies.
Career
Kusuma's early ventures involved smuggling electronic goods through Palembang. He formed a partnership with Tomy Winata and was affiliated with the "nine dragons," a powerful consortium that held significant influence over Jakarta’s gambling industry during the New Order period.
During the 1980s, Kusuma accumulated considerable wealth by collaborating with military financier Robby Sumampouw to run an illicit lottery (toto gelap) and casino operation in Surabaya.
Business
Together with Winata, Kusuma controls PT Danayasa Arthatama through Jakarta International Hotels & Developments Tbk, which is responsible for developing and owning the Sudirman Central Business District.
The Kusuma family manages PT Agung Sedayu, which holds an 89% stake in Pantai Indah Kapuk Dua (formerly Pratama Abadi Nusa Industri) via PT Multi Artha Pratama. Pantai Indah Kapuk Dua has been publicly traded since 2018 and represents a significant new project located in Tangerang Regency.
Land reclamation controversy
In mid-2015, despite North Jakarta authorities refusing permits for offshore island construction, some developers proceeded with their projects. At the same time, Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama introduced a draft Regional Regulation (Perda) concerning land reclamation to the DPRD. This regulation sought to clarify spatial planning guidelines and streamline permit issuance but proposed increasing the land sales tax rate from 5% to 15%, potentially raising costs by Rp12 trillion.
In December 2015, the Corruption Eradication Commission uncovered meetings at Kusuma’s residence where he reportedly exerted pressure on DPRD members to approve the spatial planning legislation without raising land contribution fees. Witnesses indicated that developers offered bribes ranging from Rp2.5 to 5 billion per DPRD member in exchange for favorable votes. Both Kusuma and his son Richard Halim were subjected to multiple KPK interrogations and were barred from international travel between April and October 2016.
According to reporting by Tempo, Agung Sedayu made four payments to Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, speaker of PDI-Perjuangan and a former employee of Kusuma, who then distributed funds to others including Ongen Sangaji. Wiretapped evidence presented in court revealed an Agung Sedayu executive informing Sanusi that Kusuma intended to pressure Marsudi to secure approval of the perda. Sanusi criticized Marsudi’s role in distributing bribes, stating it obstructed DPRD collaboration.
In December 2016, Gerindra legislator and DPRD speaker Mohamad Sanusi was convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment along with a fine of 250 million Rupiah. Ariesman Widjaja, head of Agung Podomoro Land, received a three-year jail term for bribing Sanusi with Rp2 billion. His assistant Trinanda Prihantoro was sentenced to 20 months. The verdict confirmed Sanusi had accepted assets from Agung Podomoro Land, including apartments and commercial buildings. Authorities also confiscated luxury cars and cash from Sanusi, suspecting he accepted inducements from developers and distributed bribes among DPRD members.
Personal life
Sugianto Kusuma is wed to Rebecca Halim, with whom he has four offspring. The pair became members of Tzu Chi in 2002 after visiting Hualien, Taiwan, in 2001.
His sibling, Susanto Kusuma, holds shares in Agung Sedayu, and his nephew, Steven Kusumo, occupies the role of the firm's CEO.