Fire destroys Cimanggis cineplex

JAKARTA (JP): A fire believed to have been caused by a short circuit destroyed the Cimanggis cineplex on Jl. Dewi Sartika in Ciputat, South Jakarta, early on Monday.

No fatalities were reported in the fire, which broke out at about 1 a.m. and was extinguished at approximately 2:30 a.m, witnesses said.

The fire burned the two halls of the cineplex but failed to touch the poster advertising a local movie titled Gairah Binal (Wild Temptation).

An employee at the cineplex, Endjam, 20, said: "I saw the fire start in the ceiling ... and then I just ran out."

He said the last showings at the theater were the 9:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. screenings on Sunday.

At least seven fire engines arrived at the scene to put out the fire.

The owner of the cineplex could not be reached for comment.

Local police had earlier indicated that the cinema illegally showed pornographic movies.

Late last month, Ciputat Police detectives arrested three men for allegedly raping a schoolgirl and molesting another after the group had watched a pornographic movie at the Cimanggis cineplex.

Ciputat Police chief Capt. Helvi Assegaf identified the alleged rapists as John Risal bin Ratudin, 21, Iwan Halim bin Hasannani, 20, and Subardi bin Manan, 21. All three of the suspects reside in Kedaung village, Pamulang.

The rape victim was identified as LP, 16, from Pamulang Permai, while SBS, 18, who lives in Pamulang Barat village, was molested by the men.

"We found the girls naked and crying in the abandoned and unfinished Pasar Ciputat housing and shopping complex," Helvi said at the time.

"After watching a movie titled Permainan Binal (Wild Games) with the girls in the cinema, the rapists told the victims they would find a public minivan for them.

"When the girls refused, the suspects then brought them to the three-story Pasar Ciputat complex and repeatedly raped and molested the girls," he said.

Helvi did not say if his office would question the owner of the cineplex over the case.

The officer also did not say whether Monday's fire was believed to be related to the previous incident. (ylt)