City administration to provide legal aid to market collapse suspect

Governor Fauzi Bowo said the city administration would provide legal aid to Erry Wijaya, head of the Tanah Abang division of the Building Supervisory Agency (P2B), who was named suspect in the collapse of a part of Metro Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta.

Fauzi said the facility was the right of every civil servant facing a legal case.

“We will provide him with legal assistance. But this doesn’t mean that we defend him,” he said on Wednesday.  

Erry was one of six suspects announced by the City Police on Tuesday.

The other five suspects are an official from Metro Tanah Abang management group Rointa Eka Jaya, an official from building supervision consultant Trimatra Jaya Persada, ES from building structure consultant Susanto Cipta Jaya, an official from building contractor PT Jagat Baja Prima and an official from architectural consultant PT. Megatika International.

Each suspect, charged under articles covering negligent acts which lead to death or injuries, will face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The suspects are also charged with violating the 2002 Building Law. The Dec. 23 collapse claimed four lives and injured 14 people.