15 years sought for bus driver

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Prosecutors demanded yesterday that the driver of an intercity bus charged with negligence resulting in the deaths of 31 passengers, be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Prosecutors also said that the defendant, Ag. bin Yakob, should be banned from possessing a drivers' license for any kind of vehicle for 20 years.

Twenty-nine passengers were incinerated inside the private- owned Kramatdjati bus. The other two were in another vehicle which the bus crashed into on the shoulder of the Jagorawi toll road.

Seven more were seriously injured.

At the Bogor District Court, prosecutors Razali Hanafiah and Yono Salim pointed out that negligence and intentional disregard on the part of defendant had led to the accident of March 23.

Prior to the crash, the driver had ignored warnings from passengers and his conductor not to speed and zigzag, Yono said.

"This, coupled with the fact that the defendant had swallowed two barbiturate pills before leaving the Kampung Rambutan terminal for Bandung, proves beyond doubt that the defendant had been negligent."

"The accident would not have happened had the defendant obeyed warnings from his conductor and the passengers," prosecutor Razali said.

He added that Ag. is proved guilty of causing the deaths of the passengers, Razali concluded.

Asked by presiding Judge Usman Wahab if he would defend himself, Ag. -- looking distressed and subdued -- said he would leave it up to his lawyers.

At the behest of Monang Saragih, the chairman of the defendant's team of lawyers, the trial was adjourned until Aug. 15. (21/bas)