This still does not work in MacOS Monterey 12.5.

However – strangely enough – a 'file' reference also works when defined by the script outside the InDesign tell block. So this also works:

set imageFile to POSIX file "/path/to/IMG_2592.jpeg"
--> file "Macintosh HD:path:to:IMG_2592.jpeg"

set textFile to POSIX file "/path/to/test.txt"
--> file "Macintosh HD:path:to:test.txt"

tell application id "com.adobe.indesign"
tell rectangle 1 of document 1
place imageFile
end tell
tell text frame 1 of document 1
place textFile
end tell
end tell

The different ways to refer to a file seems to be fever with InDesign on Catalina . Using 'file' directly in the Indesign tell block does nor work for example. But using 'alias' with a HFS-path still works:

tell application id "com.adobe.indesign"
tell rectangle 1 of document 1
place alias "path:to:image.jpeg"
end tell
tell text frame 1 of document 1
place alias "path:to:text.txt"
end tell
end tell

Still broken in 15.03. There seem to be several Applescript commands that fails on Catalina, including place, relink and update. Also getting the item link fails:
get item link of graphic 1 of thisBox
--> "nothing" on Catalina
--> returns the item link on Mojave

One workaround for placement seems to be to address the file "as alias" or as «class furl». See Shane Stanleys solution here:
https://forum.latenightsw.com/t/catalina-indesign-place-error-missing-required-parameter-file-name-for-method-place/2375/3

Another option is to use javascript to place them, such as:

tell application "Adobe InDesign 2020"
do script "app.place(Array(" & thefiles & "));" language javascript

where thefiles is a comma separated list of POSIX file references

Did anyone end up solving this issue?

Hi!
I have the same problem + Javascript error 55.
No solution found.

Confirming the problem. I haven't found any workaround.

I have the same problem. Were you able to resolve the issue?