Fire-ravaged BI building lacks fire safety permit

JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia's tower A, which was gutted by fire Monday, did not have a fire safety certificate from Jakarta Fire Department, an official said yesterday.

Head of the fire department Suharso said the building's contractor, PT Jaya CM Manggala Pratama, had not arranged for an inspection of the building's safety system.

Bank staff reportedly moved into the building three months ago, even though a safety certificate must be obtained before a building is occupied, he said.

"We, therefore, have not yet issued a document certifying the standard of the building's fire safety system, meaning that we, so far, haven't checked all their fire equipment in detail."

Suharso said it was the responsibility of the contractor to request the inspection before allowing the building to be occupied.

The fire department's safety certificate should be handed over to the owner through the contractor, he said.

The newly completed 25-story tower on Jl. MH Thamrin, one of the city's main thoroughfares, in Central Jakarta, turned into a fire trap when flames engulfed the top four floors of the building Monday morning.

At least 15 people, including a female bank employee and two bank security guards, were killed in the inferno.

Nine of the victims suffocated to death in elevators on the 23rd and 24th floors of the tower while the others burned to death on the same floors.

Based on preliminary findings, the city fire department said that the exhaust fan in the building's emergency stairwells had failed to remove smoke from the vicinity, Suharso said.

Governor Sutiyoso also blamed the central bank for its lack of control over safety systems and the implementation of regulations.

"If there has been a violation, we'll take action in accordance with the existing law," Sutiyoso said yesterday.

Councilor Ali Imran Husein, member of Commission D for development affairs, accused Bank Indonesia -- as the owner of the building -- of violating one of the city's building regulations.

Ali said the bank had failed to obtain permission to occupy the building from the City Development and Supervision Agency.

"Why did the central bank make use of the building when construction of the building is scheduled to be completed on Dec. 22?"

He said the agency had not issued the permit because the central bank had not completed several requirements, including certification of the building's fire safety system from the fire department.

City police have reportedly questioned a secretary from Merdeka daily, identified as Ida Nurul, who received a phone call about 30 minutes before the fire took place.

The mysterious caller, a man, is said to have informed her that he planned to burn down the central bank.

Ida was quoted in the daily yesterday as saying that she initially neglected the man's threat until colleagues later informed her that the building was on fire.

Merdeka quoted Ida as saying that the man called her again at 11 a.m., saying: "You see, I've burned the building as I told you I would earlier."

He then told her that he would burn other buildings along Jl. MH. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman in the next few days, the daily reported.

A source at the daily said yesterday that Ida had been questioned at a police station since early in the morning.

When asked to confirm the reports, city police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang denied that the woman had been questioned.

But Aritonang said that eight witnesses were still being questioned at Central Jakarta Police precinct.

Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin denied yesterday that arson was the cause of the fire.

"We have not yet seen any evidence of arson," he said.

As a result of Monday's fire, the municipality has been urged to step up supervision of fire safety systems in high-rise buildings in the capital.

Councilor Rusjdi Hamka of the United Development Party faction said the fire was also the responsibility of the city administration due to its poor control and supervision.

He also called on the administration to provide and improve the city fire department's equipment so it can keep up with the fast-growing number of high-rise buildings in the capital.

Governor Sutiyoso admitted that the city's fire-fighting equipment was not up to scratch and pledged to provide better safety equipment.

"Better equipment is needed, but the most important thing is the courageousness of the firefighters who put out the fire," he said.

M. Danisworo, head of the city's architecture team, said every high-rise building must have a fire safety system which is regularly checked. (ind/edt/jun)