Three executives arrested on charges of vandalism

JAKARTA (JP): Three executives of two private developers have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing a West Jakarta building at the center of an ownership dispute.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said yesterday the authorities were investigating all possibilities of foul play.

"We have detained the three suspects and focused our investigation on their involvement in the destruction of the building," he told reporters.

A police source, speaking on the condition of anonymity yesterday, said the building was a shopping center in Tanjung Duren.

Da'i named the executives as Sutjipto Nagaria and Benny Lukman of PT Summarecon, and Ali Santoso of PT Jakarta Kosmopolitan. All were arrested over the weekend.

He said they were charged with violating Article 410 of the Criminal Code on illegal destruction of a building.

They face a maximum sentence of five years in jail if found guilty, he added.

"Each of the three played a role, in either encouraging, giving the orders or executing the vandalism of the shopping center building in West Jakarta," he said.

The anonymous police source said Ali allegedly received a US$30 million loan from state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia to construct the building several years ago.

He encountered difficulties with the city administration over a lack of necessary permits and also could not pay the loan back on time, according to the officer.

Although the property was subsequently seized by the city administration, Ali sold it to Sutjipto, the officer said.

"It seems Sutjipto was not really aware about the building's status. The problem worsened when the bank wanted to seize the building but found that some of it had allegedly been vandalized."

Da'i said the investigation of the three was not based on a complaint from the bank. (cst)