15 villas demolished in Puncak

BOGOR (JP): At least 15 villas in Kopo village in the mountain resort of Puncak were demolished on Friday as they had been built in violation of their building permits.

Bogor Regional Inspectorate Office chief Deddy Hediana said the demolished villas were among 34 facing demolition for having being illegally built on 250-hectare site belonging to a foundation set up by former manpower minister Abdul Latief.

Deddy said that two other buildings, a mosque and a warehouse, would not be demolished until the foundation provided other land so that the buildings could be relocated.

He said that the foundation's ownership of the 250-hectare site was evidenced by two land use certificates issued by the National Land Agency (BPN). The certificates expire on March 26, 2020.

The demolition of the luxurious villas, which are worth between Rp 200 million (US$21,276) and Rp 500 million (US$53,190), commenced at 6 a.m.

The villas were registered under the names of Marzuki, Habib Umar, Bahrudin, Muhamad Ridwan and Santo.

Several employees of villa owner Bahrudin tried to prevent the demolition. They wanted to demolish the villa themselves so that the building materials could be retrieved and later sold.

But the employees' efforts were in vain as the regency officers refused to accede to their demands and forcibly demolished the villa.

"We hoped they would let us demolish the villa ourselves but to no avail. Now, there is nothing left," Bahrudin's wife, Sari, said and burst into tears.

Muhamad Ridwan admitted that there was some dispute as to the land's ownership status when he acquired it in 1997.

But, he said, he was about to secure a certificate for the land when suddenly Latief showed up claiming the plot. (21/jun)