10/11/2024
🚨 A Battle for Justice: PT Permindo Tubularta vs. Legal Malpractice 🚨
For over two decades, PT Permindo Tubularta has been entangled in a relentless pursuit of justice. What began as a promising oil-drilling project in Sumatra quickly spiraled into a legal nightmare, as funds owed to our company were unlawfully diverted, and our legal representatives, Hadiputranto Hadinoto & Partners (HHP) and Baker McKenzie, allegedly betrayed their duty to protect our interests.
Now, as the President Director of PT Permindo Tubularta, I am carrying forward this fight for accountability—demanding transparency, integrity, and the rightful compensation my company was denied.
In 1997, PT Permindo Tubularta, then led by my father, entered a partnership with Twin Oilfield Services Ltd., acting as their agent for an essential oil-drilling project with Pilona Petro Tanjung Lontar Ltd., a subsidiary of Equatorial Energy Inc. from Canada. This project was designed to drill five wells in Sumatra. Despite successfully completing two wells, Pilona ceased payments, leaving both Twin and Permindo uncompensated.
To recover the earnings owed, we engaged Hadiputranto Hadinoto & Partners (HHP), a highly regarded law firm with a solid reputation, and its global affiliate, Baker McKenzie. We trusted HHP to act in our best interests, but instead, they allegedly engaged in unauthorized actions that led to further losses:
1. Unauthorized Settlement and Payment Diversion: Without PT Permindo Tubularta’s knowledge or consent, HHP permitted Twin and Pilona to settle, directing funds to a Hong Kong account controlled by Twin, bypassing Permindo entirely. This transaction, outside of our contract’s terms, excluded us from the funds rightfully owed.
2. Neglecting Client Consent and Empowering Unauthorized Agents: HHP’s foreign legal consultant, Catherine Boggs, allegedly withheld the draft Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) from us until it was too late to prevent its finalization without Permindo’s approval. Additionally, HHP permitted Ken Cooper of Twin Oilfield to represent Permindo in negotiations, despite his power of attorney being previously revoked. Consequently, Pilona transferred USD 2,233,857 to Twin’s account—funds owed to Permindo but never received.
3. Lack of Accountability to Indonesian Tax Authorities: This payment structure resulted in Indonesia’s Dept Fiskal missing relevant taxes, raising significant regulatory and ethical concerns.
The impact on PT Permindo Tubularta has been devastating. We invested time, resources, and trust in this project, only to be denied the rightful compensation. Despite paying HHP USD 20,000 in legal fees, they prioritized their affiliate’s interests over ours and neglected to consult us on critical decisions. Further, HHP has consistently denied responsibility, claiming that primary responsibility lay with Canadian legal counsel, John Marshall. However, our direct contract was with HHP, and they were accountable for managing our interests.
After years of pursuing justice, experts at Drew & Napier and Sidley Austin have confirmed that PT Permindo Tubularta is owed tens of millions in damages. We are seeking over USD 5 million in economic and moral compensation, reflecting the severe financial toll on our company. This case has drained PT Permindo Tubularta of resources, and it has been a prolonged burden on my life and career since I took over leadership after my father’s passing. In today’s era of openness, we ask for the support of the legal community, business partners, and justice advocates to help us finally secure the compensation we deserve.
Please help amplify this post by sharing and tagging those involved. Together, we can raise awareness and push for accountability—not just to recover funds but to ensure no other business suffers similar treatment by those they trusted.
It’s time for accountability. It’s time for justice. Help us amplify this case so that PT Permindo Tubularta can achieve a fair resolution.
Jacob Powell
President Director, PT Permindo Tubularta