Expert testifies on overpass fall

JAKARTA (JP): A Ministry of Public Works expert witness told the West Jakarta District Court yesterday the fatal collapse of a West Jakarta overpass was caused by the premature removal of the bridge's bracings.

Mustazir, who is the ministry's head of bridges and buildings under the Directorate General of Roads, gave a testimony similar to earlier findings by a public works ministry team set up to investigate the project built by PT Hanbo Bumi Karsa, a South Korean-Indonesian joint venture.

Three workers were killed and 18 injured when the 500-ton Grogol overpass collapsed on March 22.

Two South Korean engineers, the company's general superintendent and his deputy, were allegedly responsible for the tragedy and now being tried.

Mustazir said the removal of bracings could be done only if the contractor ordered it.

But in this case it must have been done outside of standard procedures, he said.

Mustazir said he did not know who ordered the bracings removed.

The ministry's second witness, M. Tontro Prastowo, said the defendant, BWL, ordered the removal. BWL is PT Hanbo's general superintendent.

Tontro said the removal of the bracings was the contractor's responsibility.

"But, it should be based on a written request from the contractor to the consultant," he said.

The removal could be done only after the consultant consented, he said.

"But the one who has the authority at the project site is the general superintendent of the constructing company," Tontro said.

Asked why only the contractor was responsible, Tontro said the the contract needed to be studied. (05)