The Law and Human Rights Ministry has reported Tangerang Mayor Arief Wismansyah to the police over a campus building dispute after the latter halted public services for the ministry’s offices and properties in the city.

“Yes. It’s confirmed. I still can’t share the details. The report was received by the crime unit,” Tangerang Police chief Sr. Comr. Abdul Karim told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The ministry’s spokesman, Bambang Wiyono, said the report concerned the ministry’s newly inaugurated campus for the Polytechnic School of Correctional Service Sciences and Polytechnic School of Immigration, which according to the Tangerang administration had no building permit.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly inaugurated the school, which is located on Jl. Satria Sudirman next to the mayor’s office, on July 9

“It’s about land ownership. The building was built in accordance with regulations. The mayor has violated the law,” Bambang said.

The Tangerang mayor has ordered his subordinates to seal the 181-hectare campus, as he said there was no building permit for its construction. Arief also reportedly instructed his subordinates to stop providing city public services, such as electricity and waste collection, for several buildings, including prisons and immigration offices in the city.

During a meeting with his subordinates and local figures on Monday, Arief said the ministry had built the campus in an area that was supposed to be used for open green space as stipulated in a regional regulation on land-use planning.

"We don't forbid [the ministry to build the school]. However, we must pay attention to the rules,” Arief stated. (das)