Police investigate fatal wall collapse

TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Police have questioned three soccer tournament committee members here, following the collapse on Sunday of a factory wall which killed three children.

Police declined to identify the committee members.

"We've questioned them and we'll follow-up on the results for further investigation," said Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto.

The tragedy took place at noon as a soccer match was in progress. The factory's wall, which bounded the soccer field, collapsed, killing three young boys: Syaiful bin Mahfud, 10, Pendi bin Slamet, 11, and Anwar bin Safei, 10. Injured spectators at the site were rushed to Tangerang Hospital.

The grieving families of the dead boys demanded the factory, PT Pelita Cengkareng Paper, and the soccer tournament committee be held accountable for the incident.

"I want them to be held responsible for the death of my son," said Mahfud, Syaiful's father.

The company, however, claimed that they had compensated the families. "We've solved the matter peacefully," said personnel manager Sudiyono. (41/edt)