Many residential houses in Bogor used as business sites

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)