Witness: BPK Member Haerul Saleh Shouted 'Fire' Before Dying

A witness stated that Haerul Saleh, Member IV of the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia, who became a fatality, shouted during the fire at his home on Jalan TB Simatupang, Tanjung Barat, South Jakarta. “The gentleman shouted, shouted ‘fire’. We went back up and immediately informed the local residents to call the fire department,” said the witness named Arpen to journalists in Jakarta on Friday (8/5). Arpen, who is also the caretaker of the victim’s house, said the affected area was the office room located on the fourth floor of the building. At that time, the victim was working with a colleague in the office room. “His position was indeed with people there. The gentleman and his colleague were working on something,” he said. When checking the upper floor, Arpen only then realised the victim was still inside the room. He then claimed not to know the exact cause of the fire yet. “We went up, and it turned out the gentleman was still inside,” he said. Based on information from the location, the police will conduct a crime scene examination (TKP) on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman reported that BPK RI Member IV Haerul Saleh passed away following a fire disaster at his home on Friday morning. The South Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-Department (Gulkarmat Jaksel) stated that one fatality occurred in the fire at Jalan TB Simatupang No 3, RT03/RW02, Tanjung Barat, Jagakarsa. “The fatality named KS (49) has been handled by officers,” said Head of South Jakarta Gulkarmat Sub-Department Asril Rizal. Asril said the body has now been transported by ambulance to Pasar Minggu General Hospital for further handling. Initially, officers received information from the local RT who saw black smoke billowing from the third floor of the house. “The fire is suspected to have originated from remnants of used thinner from house renovations,” he said. The RT then immediately contacted the South Jakarta Gulkarmat officers for assistance. South Jakarta Gulkarmat personnel carried out extinguishing operations at 08:07 WIB and completed the operation at 08:46 WIB. To date, they are still assessing the extent of losses from the affected area of 5x10 square metres.