Housing customers complain to police

JAKARTA (JP): At least 220 potential home-buyers of Bumi Indah housing complex went to the city police headquarters on Tuesday, to report an alleged scam by the developer involving a Rp 2 billion fund for the purchase of houses at the complex.

"We reported the case to the police," Erna Ratnaningsih, a lawyer at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, said on Tuesday.

She said the customers had paid installments for the purchase of the houses since 1996, but there had not been any indication as to when the construction of the housing project would start.

She said the customers also staged a demonstration at the office of the State Minister of Public Housing, urging Minister Theo L. Sambuaga to mediate their dispute with the developer, PT Artha Buana Sakti, she said.

The minister's assistant Soedarsono promised to send letters to related parties to help solve the problem.

The developer's executives could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. (jun)