Driver may face murder charge

The North Jakarta police may charge Ramses Silitonga, the driver of the Metromini bus which in February careened into the Sunter river in North Jakarta with dozens of its passengers, with murder.

A reliable police source said on Monday that officers were still collecting all necessary evidence and information to support their case.

The February accident killed 33 people and injured dozens more.

The minibus, packed with passengers, careened into the river on Jl. Yos Sudarso at 10:10 a.m. on Feb. 6 after the driver lost control of the vehicle during a high speed race with another minibus.

The bus swerved left and off the road, crossing the 17 meters separating the road from the river, before it plunged into the polluted river.

Ramses was arrested at his hometown in North Sumatra after hiding out for six months.(bsr)