Fire Kills 22 People; Terra Drone Boss Sentenced to 1 Year and 4 Months in Prison

A Jakarta court on Thursday (21 May 2026) found Michael Wisnu Wardhana Siagian proven beyond reasonable doubt to have committed the crime of gross negligence which led to the death of others, according to the presiding judge Purwanto S Abdullah of the Central Jakarta District Court. The court sentenced the defendant to 1 year and 4 months’ imprisonment. The judge stated that the defendant’s failure to meet K3 (occupational health and safety) standards represented gross negligence rather than intent. The court found that Michael had neglected six aspects of K3 compliance while renting the PT Terra Drone office building in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, for more than two years. The judge noted that Michael was aware of the potential danger posed by storing lithium polymer drone batteries in the office premises. The court considered his actions in financing the victims’ funeral expenses, providing BPJS Ketenagakerjaan administration, offering scholarships to the children of the victims as a form of moral responsibility. The court held that Michael Wisnu Wardhana Siagian violated Article 474 paragraph (3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Indonesian Penal Code as charged in the primary indictment. The prosecution had previously demanded a two-year sentence. The indictment hearing was held at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (11 May 2026). The Prosecution said that the negligence caused the deaths of 22 Terra Drone employees. “The defendant Michael Wisnu Wardhana Siagian has been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt of committing an offence for which his negligence caused the death of others, in violation of Article 474(3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Penal Code as in the prosecutor’s first indictment,” the prosecutor said while reading the indictment. “Therefore, the defendant is sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, deducting the time in custody already served. The defendant should remain in custody,” the prosecutor added. The prosecution also outlined aggravating and mitigating factors. Aggravating: the act caused the deaths of 22 Terra Drone employees. Mitigating: the defendant cooperated, expressed remorse, has no prior convictions, and there has already been reconciliation between the defendant and 20 of the victims’ families.