Three officials questioned over train accident<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): Local police have questioned three officials at
\nBogor Railway Station and are currently awaiting further
\ninformation from the five operators of the train, following a
\ntragic incident that claimed 12 lives on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\"We've questioned witnesses and three officials, namely
\nrailway station chief Ismanto, security chief Endang Sutisna and
\nhealth post chief Engkos Koswara,\" Bogor Regional Police chief
\nCol. Edi Darnadi told reporters on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The five operators have not yet been able to meet the police
\nsummons for questioning over the fatal deaths of the victims,
\nmostly teenagers, in the Paledang area, Central Bogor, on the
\ngrounds of the absence of other officials to temporarily replace
\nthem.<\/p>\n
The five were identified as the train's track controller chief
\nUdin Saefudin, railroad platform officer Supriyadi, locomotive
\nengineers Sopiandi and Onel and attendant Sanwasi.<\/p>\n
The 12 victims, riding on top of the crowded Bogor-Sukabumi
\ndiesel-powered train, were killed when they collided with a
\nbridge five minutes after the train left Bogor Station.<\/p>\n
Ten others were severely injured.<\/p>\n
Eyewitness recalled the group of teenagers were sitting on the
\nroof of the train unaware of the approaching bridge.<\/p>\n
Police have not yet named any suspects in the incident.<\/p>\n
According to officer Edi, those found guilty would be charged
\nunder Article 359 of the Criminal Code for unintentional
\nmanslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in
\nprison.<\/p>\n
\"So far we haven't found the guilty party in this case because
\nevery related train officer has his own job description,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Deputy chief of Bogor Railway Station Achmad Sambudi explained
\nthe train was traveling at 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.<\/p>\n
\"At the time of the accident, based on the ticket sales, there
\nwere 800 travelers on board, with 50 to 60 of them riding on top
\nof the roof,\" Achmad said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Normally, the Bogor-Sukabumi route transports around 1,500
\npassengers per day; during the Idul Fitri holiday this figure can
\ndouble or even treble.<\/p>\n
\"Officials frequently warn passengers not to sit on the top of
\nthe trains. A day before the incident our office was pelted with
\nstones by impatient passengers when we announced that the train
\nwas late due to people on the track,\" Achmad said.<\/p>\n
In a bid to avoid accidents in the future, police and the
\nrailway station offices will work together to maintain security
\nto avoid overloading the trains, he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, state insurance company PT Jasa Rahardja in Bogor
\nand Depok have paid three victims of the Paledang train accident.<\/p>\n
\"We will pay insurance based on where the victim lives,\" PT
\nJasa Rahardja's Taufiq Arifin said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The families of two of the fatalities, Dewi Rochadi, 18, and
\nSuriadi, 18, both from Desa Ratu Jaya, Depok, have received a
\npayment along with the injured Budianto bin Supendi of Kebon
\nKopi, Bogor.<\/p>\n
The dead or crippled victims will receive Rp 5 million each,
\nwhile the injured will receive Rp 2.5 million per person.<\/p>\n
Most of the victims were teenagers who wanted to enjoy the
\nlast days of the Idul Fitri holiday. Some of them were from
\nBekasi, Depok, Tangerang and Jakarta.<\/p>\n
But Achmad insisted that his company, PT Kereta Api Indonesia,
\nhad no plans to give any kind of compensation to the victims.<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, these people were riding on the train and sitting
\nin the wrong place. This is absolutely violating the rules,\"
\nAchmad added. (21\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-officials-questioned-over-train-accident-1447893297",
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