Tower owner 'must pay compensation'

JAKARTA (JP): The owner of a billboard structure on Jl. S. Parman, West Jakarta, which was knocked down by strong wind and incessant rain on Thursday should compensate the victims, a city official said on Friday.

City Revenue Agency chief Deden Supriyadi said the huge structure, previously displaying a billboard advertising a well- known cigarette brand, belonged to advertising company PT Nestra Esta Muda.

The 457.8-square-meter structure, erected on private property, crashed onto a Fiat sedan, a Kijang minivan and a taxi passing the road.

At least two people: a taxi driver and the Kijang's owner, suffered light wounds to the heads in the incident.

"We will put the company on the blacklist if they refuse to compensate the victims," said Deden on the sidelines of a City Council plenary meeting.

Deden said the permit of the billboard structure, erected in 1994, expired on Dec. 25, 2000.

He said his office planned to remove unlicensed billboard structures but had failed to do so due to a shortage of staff.

"The agency is planning to require all advertisers, with billboards measuring more than 24 square meters, to take out accident insurance in case of collapse," Deden added.(07)