Many residential houses in Bogor used as business sites

BOGOR (JP): The Bogor administration is fighting hard against owners of residential houses along main roads in the city who have transformed their houses into business sites.

The head of the social and economic office of the Bogor administration, Idih Wihardja, said here on Saturday that his office had sealed a number of buildings that had changed function, but the owners of the buildings were defiant and had removed the seal.

Idih said that his office had also reported the removal of the seals to Bogor police, but the police did not take any further action. He expressed regret that the police even supported a number of those businesses.

He especially pointed to the mushrooming factory outlets on Jl. Pejajaran and Coral Cafe on Jl. A. Yani. All those businesses are being run from private residences.

Idih noted that the Bogor administration had actually approved the change of function of residential houses along Jl. Pejajaran into business sites.

Therefore, he called on owners of factory outlets along Jl. Pejajaran to change their building construction license (IMB) from a residential into a business permit.

Speaking on Coral Cafe, Idih said that his office had warned the cafe management to process their IMB, but the operator did not heed the warning. His office then sealed the cafe building, but hours later, the seal was removed.

When asked why his office could not enforce the regulation, Idih said that the police did not support it, noting that the police had issued a license for the operator to run the cafe there although the building permit was residential only.

Bogor mayor Iswara Natanegara had earlier instructed the mayoralty's inspectorate office to investigate the head of the mayoralty's housing division, Dody Rosadi, for his alleged abuse of power and corruption.

"I have instructed the inspectorate office to investigate the head of the housing unit, Dody Rosadi. If he is found guilty of corruption, we will take stern action," Iswara said.

Earlier, dozens of people from the People's Anticorruption Movement (GERAK) demonstrated at the Bogor Legislative Council, demanding legal action against Dody Rosadi.

GERAK executive Endud Udin said that Dody, who had the power to issue IMB for houses and high-rise buildings in Bogor, had allegedly colluded with businessmen, especial property businessmen in Bogor.

Endud suspected that Dody had issued IMB for buildings in the green belt areas along Jl. Sudirman and along Kedung Badak River and IMB for businesses in areas unsuited for business sites.

Meanwhile, the head of the United Development Party faction at the Bogor council, Hamzah Ismail, promised that he would take Dody's case to the council's leaders, and urged the council to form a special team to investigate the case. (21)