Police Began To Look At Criminal Elements In The Palmerah Building Collapse Incident

JAKARTA - The four-story building on Brigjen Katamso Street, Palmerah, West Jakarta, collapsed, some time ago. The police are currently investigating the alleged criminal offense in this case.

The alleged criminal offense arose because there were victims of the incident. Moreover, there are several construction regulations that have not been fulfilled, such as the absence of a water drain at the top of the building. Thus, the initial hypothesis that caused the collapse of the building was due to corrosion and weathering.

Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Yusri Yunus, said that the police were collecting information on the alleged criminal offenses for the collapse of the building. A number of parties, he continued, would also be questioned by the police to seek additional information.

"Later, we will summon several Heads of the Cipta Karya and Spatial Planning Office. One more (to be examined) is the Head of the Tax Service Unit. We will summon him to be examined as witnesses," said Yusri in Jakarta, Thursday, January 9.

This examination is to explore the issue of Building Construction Permit (IMB) for the building. This is because information has circulated that the four-story building was standing without a permit.

Alleged violations against the building were also known from information on the building owner. He said the building had not received significant renovations since its establishment in 1995, including maintenance of the building.

Since its establishment, the building has changed tenants twice. However, during that time, the building was not used for four years.

"It was rented for about four years. Only in 2012 from Alfa Mart rented it and then it was extended again until 2022. So far, there has never been any checking or maintenance carried out by the owner," said Yusri.

Contacted separately, West Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Office AKP Rensa Aktadivia added that the matter of examining the Head of the Cipta Karya and Spatial Planning Sub-Department was scheduled to take place, Friday, January 9.

Later, the investigation will investigate the ownership of the building permit after 2015 which is allegedly not owned by the owner of the four-story building.

"The examination agenda will have been scheduled. The examination is scheduled to take place tomorrow. Later on, the issue of building permits will be explored," said Rensa.

Previously it was reported that a four-story building located on Jalan Brigjen Katamso, Palmerah, West Jakarta, collapsed without clear reasons. The incident occurred on Monday, January 6 at around 9.00 WIB.

As a result of the incident, three people became victims. Two of them who were online motorcycle taxi riders experienced fractures in their arms and legs. Meanwhile, another one only suffered minor injuries.