City to sue developer for damaging historic building
JAKARTA (JP): "I'm angry about this case," Governor Sutiyoso said on Wednesday, referring to a protected building in Menteng, Central Jakarta, which has been allegedly damaged by a private developer.
Sutiyoso said the damage to the former Central Jakarta Immigration Office may have been a deliberate act by developer PT Mandala Griya Cipta so it could construct a new building on the strategically situated land.
The three-star retired general said the city administration would sue the developer and simultaneously ask the company to repair the damage and restore the building.
He was apparently angered that his subordinates -- the Central Jakarta mayor, head of the Menteng district and head of Gondangdia subdistrict -- knew nothing about the damaged building.
"I have ordered city officials to investigate the case. Repairing the building is not enough. We'll sue the developer for neglecting regulations and damaging the building," he said.
The governor acknowledged that the building could have been sold by the owner, the Directorate General of Immigration, but the new owner was not entitled to alter the facade or structure of the building, since it has been declared a historic building.
The developer's president, Kenny Nanik, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
City secretary Fauzi Bowo said on Tuesday the city administration would ask the developer to restore the building to its original Dutch-style construction.
"The developer should be responsible for all damages to the old building," Fauzi said.
He dismissed the developer's earlier claim that the damage was caused by looters.
"I don't believe that. It doesn't make any sense," he said.
Tear off
He said he received a report that the building was seriously damaged, including its roof, parts of which appear to have been intentionally torn off.
Company executive Nyono said last week the developer had not yet decided what to do with the building.
A 1999 city administration ruling stipulates that anybody found guilty of damaging a protected building could face a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of up to Rp 5 million (US$625).
Law No. 5/1992 on protected buildings carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a fine of up to Rp 100 million.
Meanwhile, head of the city museum and restoration agency Robert Silalahi said the agency had placed a placard on the front wall of the building on Monday, advising the public that the building was protected by law.
"We can't seal the building off because that is the jurisdiction of the city building control agency," Silalahi said on Wednesday.
He said the governor also instructed the company, owned by Hutomo Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, that it should return the building into its original state.
"We have pictures of the details of the building's construction and we have building preservation experts. They can cooperate with us if they are unable to make copies of the missing components, like windows, doors and lamps," he said.
The protected building, called Bataviasche Kunstkring (Batavia Cultural Center) before it served as an immigration office, is now encircled by a high gray fence, while bricks and trash litter the yard.
The building's window and door frames have been removed, graffiti has been scrawled across its walls and its 80-year-old floor is covered with debris. (jun/ind)