Police detain polluters
BOGOR: Bogor Police arrested eight of 16 owners of car battery recycling plants in Ciampea district of Bogor on suspicion of causing environmental damage in the area.
Bogor Police subprecinct chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Taufik said on Friday that in their car battery recycling business, they burnt the batteries, which released dangerous chemical substances into the atmosphere that were hazardous to human health.
According to Taufik, the chemical substance caused irritation to the eyes, respiratory ailments, and could have an adverse effect on IQ levels, especially for children.
The eight people were arrested after the police received a report of a study from the Office of the State Minister of the Environment, saying that the battery burning produced hazardous chemical substances.
"They are now being detained at the Bogor Police subprecinct and will be taken to Cibinong District Court in the near future," he said.
The other eight people were still being questioned by the police and could be also named suspects in the same case.
Taufik said that this was the first case related to environmental pollution being handled by a police subprecinct in Indonesia.--JP
;JP;BBN; ANPAj..r.. Focus-Sutiyoso-irregularities Sutiyoso supports irregularities probe JP/8/Greater
Sutiyoso supports irregularities probe
JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday that he supported an investigation by the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office into alleged irregularities reported by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).
"I support the action taken by the prosecutor's office. I will punish any official who is proven guilty," said Sutiyoso.
He was commenting on the questioning of the head of the population and civil registration agency, Silviana Murni, by prosecutors on Thursday.
Silviana was the first city official questioned as a witness in connection with the reports of irregularities worth some Rp 820 billion in several institutions under the control of the city administration.
Sutiyoso also encouraged the prosecutor's office to question other officials who may be responsible for the irregularities.
Before BPK revealed its findings in February, there had been allegations of corruption involving city officials and city councillors, but legal proceedings were not taken.--JP
;JP;MULTA FIDRUS; ANPAj..r.. Focus-Tangerang-accident One killed in three-vehicle pileup JP/8/GREATER
One killed in three-vehicle pileup
TANGERANG: One man was killed and six others were injured in a three-vehicle pileup on the Jakarta-Merak toll road in Serpong, Tangerang, at 5 a.m. on Friday.
Truck driver Syamsul Ichwan, 32, who was transporting oranges from Deli Serdang, North Sumatra to Jakarta, died as a result of his injuries on the way to Al-Qadar Hospital in Karawaci. The other six are in hospital receiving treatment.
It took officers three hours to extract Ichwan, a resident of Pondok Rejo village, Deli Serdang, from the truck as he was pinned between the dashboard and the seat. Morning rush hour traffic also delayed transporting him to the hospital.
The accident backed up traffic heading toward Jakarta for five kilometers, prompting PT Jasa Marga, the toll road management company, to close the Bitung toll gate in the direction of Merak until 9 a.m.
The pileup involved three trucks, including the one driven by Syamsul, said M. Nur, a staff member of PT Jasa Marga. --JP