Fire destroys Cimanggis cineplex

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)