Petrus “Petu” Laja, the Sumba surf camp owner and homestay operator at the centre of a land dispute in Kerewe, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Waikabubak District Court.
When Tracks first reported on Laja’s case, he was facing the possibility of five years in prison over a dispute tied to development in Kerewe. The ruling, delivered on 8 June, brings some clarity after months of uncertainty.
According to Laja’s lawyer Justin Rangga Boro, the family is grateful for the outcome. Because Petu has already spent around six months in detention, that time will be credited toward his sentence. In addition, the defense expects that he will receive sentence reductions, including remissions granted during national holidays and on Indonesia’s Independence Day. Based on those calculations, he may be released around September or October this year.
Laja’s arrest followed a confrontation that started last November involving members of his community and people linked, according to earlier reporting, to PT Sutra Marosi Kharisma, a company associated with large-scale development plans in the area. His case drew attention beyond Sumba because it appeared to capture a wider struggle on the island: the collision between tourism development and long-standing Indigenous claims to customary land.
That wider fight is far from over, according to Laja’s lawyer. After his release, the legal team plans to continue pursuing recognition and protection of customary land rights.
The defense argues the case also exposes deeper inequalities in access to justice. Many people in Sumba, Justin Rangga Boro said, lack the education, legal knowledge, and financial means to defend themselves effectively in land disputes, leaving communities vulnerable both to losing land and to criminalization when conflicts escalate.
Aditya Karma, president director of PT Sutra Marosi Kharisma stated that the company fully respects the court’s decision as part of Indonesia’s judicial system.
“Our company does not intend to comment on the substance of the judgment beyond what has already been considered by the court. Any future legal steps will be evaluated based on the company’s legal interests and the applicable laws and regulations, and will be pursued only through lawful legal mechanisms.
PT Sutra Marosi Kharisma remains committed to conducting its business responsibly, respecting surrounding communities and the legal process, and resolving issues through peaceful and transparent mechanisms in accordance with Indonesian law.”
