City to sue developer for damaging historic building<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"I'm angry about this case,\" Governor Sutiyoso
\nsaid on Wednesday, referring to a protected building in Menteng,
\nCentral Jakarta, which has been allegedly damaged by a private
\ndeveloper.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the damage to the former Central Jakarta
\nImmigration Office may have been a deliberate act by developer PT
\nMandala Griya Cipta so it could construct a new building on the
\nstrategically situated land.<\/p>\n
The three-star retired general said the city administration
\nwould sue the developer and simultaneously ask the company to
\nrepair the damage and restore the building.<\/p>\n
He was apparently angered that his subordinates -- the Central
\nJakarta mayor, head of the Menteng district and head of
\nGondangdia subdistrict -- knew nothing about the damaged
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
\"I have ordered city officials to investigate the case.
\nRepairing the building is not enough. We'll sue the developer for
\nneglecting regulations and damaging the building,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The governor acknowledged that the building could have been
\nsold by the owner, the Directorate General of Immigration, but
\nthe new owner was not entitled to alter the facade or structure
\nof the building, since it has been declared a historic building.<\/p>\n
The developer's president, Kenny Nanik, could not be reached
\nfor comment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
City secretary Fauzi Bowo said on Tuesday the city
\nadministration would ask the developer to restore the building to
\nits original Dutch-style construction.<\/p>\n
\"The developer should be responsible for all damages to the
\nold building,\" Fauzi said.<\/p>\n
He dismissed the developer's earlier claim that the damage was
\ncaused by looters.<\/p>\n
\"I don't believe that. It doesn't make any sense,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tear off<\/p>\n
He said he received a report that the building was seriously
\ndamaged, including its roof, parts of which appear to have been
\nintentionally torn off.<\/p>\n
Company executive Nyono said last week the developer had not
\nyet decided what to do with the building.<\/p>\n
A 1999 city administration ruling stipulates that anybody
\nfound guilty of damaging a protected building could face a
\nmaximum of six months in jail and a fine of up to Rp 5 million
\n(US$625).<\/p>\n
Law No. 5\/1992 on protected buildings carries a maximum
\nsentence of 10 years in jail and a fine of up to Rp 100 million.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, head of the city museum and restoration agency
\nRobert Silalahi said the agency had placed a placard on the front
\nwall of the building on Monday, advising the public that the
\nbuilding was protected by law.<\/p>\n
\"We can't seal the building off because that is the
\njurisdiction of the city building control agency,\" Silalahi said
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said the governor also instructed the company, owned by
\nHutomo Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president
\nSoeharto, that it should return the building into its original
\nstate.<\/p>\n
\"We have pictures of the details of the building's
\nconstruction and we have building preservation experts. They can
\ncooperate with us if they are unable to make copies of the
\nmissing components, like windows, doors and lamps,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The protected building, called Bataviasche Kunstkring (Batavia
\nCultural Center) before it served as an immigration office, is
\nnow encircled by a high gray fence, while bricks and trash litter
\nthe yard.<\/p>\n
The building's window and door frames have been removed,
\ngraffiti has been scrawled across its walls and its 80-year-old
\nfloor is covered with debris. (jun\/ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-to-sue-developer-for-damaging-historic-building-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}