Bali Police claim the Badung administration has violated the communications law by demolishing telecommunication towers in the regency.
Ahmad Nurwakhid, head of the police's criminal department, said that based on current examinations, the demolition of the telecommunication towers was against existing procedures.
Starting early August, the Badung administration ordered its security order officers (Satpol PP) to tear down 16 telecommunication towers as part of its efforts to enforce the administration's 2008 telecommunications policy on joint telecommunication towers.
The bylaw stipulates that cellular providers must utilize joint towers built and operated by a private company designated by the Badung administration.
Regarding the regional bylaw, the administration has been accused of practicing monopoly.
According to Badung regent Anak Agung Gde Agung, the towers were built by PT Solusindo Kreasi Pratama without a building permit from the administration.
Nurwakhid further said the demolition of the telecommunication towers was against the law on telecommunications.
Numerous people have lodged complaints to cellular providers including PT Telkomsel and PT Excelcomindo for failing to obtain proper networks. Both PT Telkomsel and PT Excelcomindo reported the case to the police, claiming the demolition had significantly disrupted their network systems.
Telkomsel rents and owns around 500 telecommunication towers across Bali.
The company feared the Badung administration could be charged for violating the telecommunications law as well as for vandalism, Nurwakhid explained.
The Badung administration could be charged under the Criminal Code for violating the law on telecommunications and on the prohibition of destroying and disturbing telecommunications equipment and networks, which could affect operations and disturb public services.
Violators of the law can be sentenced to between two and six years in prison.
The police intend to summon Badung regent Gde Agung to further explain his administration's policy regarding the telecommunication towers.
"We are now collecting more evidence from witnesses before we summon the Badung regent," Nurwakhid said.
Separately, Badung regent Gde Aging confirmed his administration was ready to face any lawsuits filed by cellular providers and tower operators.
"We have just enforced the existing regulation because the demolished towers were built without permits," the regent argued.
The demolition processes has already passed several stages.
The administration first issued written warnings to tower operators to tear down their towers before they ordered Satpol PP to do so.
