TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A fire at the Public Relations office of the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) on Saturday night, February 8, 2025, damaged only 20 percent of the office area, according to Harison Mocodompis, Head of the Public Relations Bureau. He ensured that no important documents, such as land certificates or documents related to land disputes, were affected.

"Technical documents related to land are usually kept in the respective land offices, not in the public relations office," said Harison, quoted from Tempo on Monday, February 10, 2025.

Harison clarified that the documents destroyed in the fire were administrative documents. The public relations bureau is responsible for preparing public information materials, serving media requests, drafting press releases, and handling public inquiries and information requests.

"No important documents were burned, and the services at the National Land Agency (BPN) resume to operate normally," said Harison.

The fire broke out at the Ministry of ATR/BPN around 11:10 PM on Saturday night, drawing public attention, particularly as the Ministry was investigating cases of land ownership certificates issued in sea fence areas. These investigations involve areas in the waters of Tangerang, Banten, and Bekasi, West Java.

However, Minister of ATR/Head of BPN, Nusron Wahid, stated that the fire was accidental and that there was no attempt to conceal evidence related to ongoing land issues.

Nusron explained that the fire is suspected to have started from a computer that was left on. Satriadi Gunawan, Head of the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency (Gulkarmat), suggested that a short circuit in the air conditioner (AC) may have been the cause.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Brig. Gen. Sudjarwoko, Head of the Forensic Laboratory Center of the Indonesian National Police, stated that they are awaiting the results of forensic lab examinations.

"It is okay to make assumptions, but what can be accounted for is the examination by the forensic laboratory," Sudjarwoko said during an inspection of the fire scene on Sunday, February 9, 2025.

His team collected samples of ash, cables, wires, and electrical outlet remnants from the scene for analysis. Sudjarwoko also confirmed that they have taken statements from the first witnesses who saw the fire at the Ministry of ATR/BPN.

Jihan Ristiyanti contributed to the writing of this article.

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