Lippo Village to have star hotel
PT Prudential Hotel Development, a subsidiary of the Lippo Group, is building a five-star hotel in the posh housing complex of Lippo Village in Karawaci, Tangerang.
Herman Widjaya, managing director of the project, said yesterday the development of the US$65 million Century Hotel and Resort was now in its final stages.
"The hotel is expected to open in mid-September," Herman said. He added that the development of the hotel began last July.
The hotel and resort, which will be managed by the Hong Kong- based Century International Hotels, will have 152 rooms and suites as well as 48 garden cabanas.
Herman also said that the hotel will offer a full range of five star amenities, including a nine-hole golf course, banquet, meeting rooms, swimming pools, numerous restaurants, health club and spa, tennis and squash courts.
The hotel, to be built in Lippo Village, a fast growing satellite town 23 kilometers west of Jakarta, is designed to cater to the demand of expatriates working for companies in Tangerang.
"Our target is business people working in Tangerang," said Brian Deeson, president and Chief Executive Officer of Century International Hotels who was accompanying Herman in the press meeting.
Meanwhile, Malcolm McLauchlan, the general manager of Imperial Century Hotel and Resort, said the hotel's occupancy rate is expected to reach at least 50 percent in the first year of its operation.
"More guests are expected to stay in our hotel soon after the opening of a toll road linking Karawaci and the (Soekarno-Hatta international) airport," Malcolm said. (has)
Buddhists will clean graveyard
Buddhists who are members of Buddha Nichiren Syosyu Indonesia (NSI) will do volunteer work Sunday by cleaning graves at Kalibata, South Jakarta -- a cemetery for national heroes.
Randy Arifin Porta, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of NSI, was quoted by Antara as saying that the work will be done in connection with the celebration of Waisak (Buddha Enlightenment) Day, which fell on Wednesday.
"The voluntary work is a manifestation of our gratitude to the freedom fighters who fought for the independence of the country," Randy said.
The voluntary work is part of a series of NSI's programs in connection with the celebration of the Waisak Day, which includes donating blood and giving gifts to the poor. (has)
Two tried over killing of physician
Gunadi, 42, a soothsayer, and Ridwan S. Dhanu, 50, a part owner of a automobile dealer, are on trial at the North Jakarta District Court for the murder of a 44-year-old physician.
Prosecutors Omsin Subarkah and Yuswa Kusumah told the district court that doctor Riyama Yawoga was murdered by Gunadi on Jan. 15 at her house on Jl. Kapuk Raya in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. The murder was allegedly committed at the behest of the victim's lover, Ridwan S. Dhanu.
Gunadi and Ridwan are being tried in separate proceedings.
Ridwan allegedly gave Gunadi Rp 20 million (US$9,300) as an advance for the murder of the doctor and promised to give another Rp 100 million ($46,500) the day after the deed was carried out.
The prosecutors said that the murder was plotted by Ridwan because Riyama was pressuring him to marry her. Prosecutors also said that he wanted to free himself from a debt worth Rp 200 million ($93,000) to the victim.
Ridwan is a married man with a number of sons while the divorced Riyama was a mother with two sons.
The trial was adjourned until next week to hear statements from the defense. (bsr)
Jatinegara residents are living in fear
Dozens of residents living in a plot to be bought by a private developer on Jl. Jatinegara Barat, East Jakarta, are reportedly being terrorized by a group of anonymous hoodlums.
A delegation, who claimed to represent 60 families living in the 4,300 square meters of land, spoke to reporters at Suara Pembaruan. They complained about what they referred to as the "dirty tactics" used by the developer to persuade them to accept compensation.
The plot is located in front of the Kampung Melayu bus station.
A delegation member, who asked not to be named, said residents feared to go out in the evening because a number of drunkards often pelted their houses with rocks.
Another delegation member said a developer wanted to build an office building on the land and had previously asked residents to sell their property.
Most of the 60 families had already agreed to sell their land and set the price of Rp 1.5 million per square meter. However, that figure was considered to be unreasonable by the developer. (has)