Jakarta Provincial Government will collect debts of Rp 30 billion from Australian embassy related the arrears of land expansion permit or approval letter in principle for land acquisition (SP3L), in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

I can collect the debt or they can ask the Foreign Affairs Ministry to remove the fines

Jakarta Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) offered 2 options to solve the problem. First, they pay the debt or they can request leniency fines from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

"I can collect the debt or they can ask the Foreign Affairs Ministry to remove the fines," told Basuki at Jakarta City Hall, Friday (3/27).

Basuki continued each country representative can requesting leniency through Foreign Affairs Ministry by providing reciprocal relationship to Indonesia representatives in their country. As example, if Australian embassy request SP3L fines removal to Indonesia, Australia can also remove Indonesia fines.

"The point is the reciprocal treatment. If we (Indonesia) want to build something at there, they won't give fines to us," Basuki uttered.

Initially, the Australian embassy proposed embassy area expansion to the city government. However, they had acquired land for the expansion without governor permission and without SP3L. Based on the rules, they should pay a fine of Rp 30 billion to Rp 36 billion as compensation expense.

Despite the fines unpaid for two years, the Australian Embassy had requested leniency. However, the request was not approved because there is a city government's demand unrealized to do the reciprocal relationship.