Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Jakarta – East Java Police have launched a criminal investigation into the deadly collapse of a building at the Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo Regency, which killed at least 61 people and has become one of the country's deadliest nonnatural disasters this year.
East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto said the criminal probe was launched after preliminary findings pointed to negligence in the building's construction.
"We have formed a special team to handle the investigation, and so far, the team has questioned 17 witnesses in connection with the incident," Nanang said during a press conference at Bhayangkara Hospital in Surabaya on Wednesday evening.
He added that investigators would also question civil engineering and criminal law experts to analyze the cause of the collapse and determine whether any criminal violations occurred during the construction process.
Although no suspects have been named so far, Nanang said anyone found responsible could be charged under Articles 359 and 360 of the Criminal Code as well as Articles 46 and 47 of the 2002 Buildings Law which cover negligence resulting in death and injuries. These offenses carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to 20 percent of the total construction cost of the collapsed building.
The criminal investigation was launched a day after rescuers concluded a nine-day search and rescue operation and cleared the debris from the collapsed building at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School.
The collapse occurred at around 3 p.m. on Sept. 29 when a truck was pouring concrete on the third floor of the unfinished structure. Authorities believe the building may not have been able to support the added weight, causing it to cave in on itself.
Despite being incomplete, the building, which began construction 10 months ago, had already been in regular use for prayers by students and teachers. At the time of the incident, around 170 students were inside, performing afternoon prayers on the first floor.
Officials said 91 students managed to escape in the immediate aftermath of the collapse. In the first three days of the evacuation, rescue teams rescued 13 more students from the rubble.
As the search operation concluded on Tuesday, rescuers had recovered 61 bodies from beneath the rubble, along with seven body parts. As of Wednesday, 40 victims had been identified, and authorities are working to determine the identities of the remaining victims.
The tragedy has sparked widespread concern over the lack of national building safety standards and renewed calls for accountability.
According to local authorities, the collapsed structure did not have a valid building permit and was allegedly built without adhering to proper safety or structural regulations.
Fauzi, a parent whose son survived the disaster but who lost four nephews in the collapse, urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
"There are strong suspicions that structural failure was to blame, that means there was a violation, and it must be investigated," Fauzi said on Monday, as quoted by Tempo.co. "Do not focus only on evacuation. Law enforcement must also proceed simultaneously."
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani has also urged a comprehensive investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
"Ensuring that school buildings meet proper structural standards is essential for the safety of our students. We trust the police to carry out a thorough investigation so this tragedy serves as a valuable lesson for all educational institutions across the country," Muzani said on Monday.
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo recently revealed that only about 50 pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) have obtained building approvals (PBG) out of 42,433 registered with the Religious Affairs Ministry, the majority of which are located in Java.
The PBG is a permit that allows the commencement of building activities, including for new structures, renovations and expansions, and is obtained through local administrations.