'Gurita' disaster suspect walks free

JAKARTA (JP): The Banda Aceh District Court has acquitted an official of the Malahayati/Krueng Raya port from charges of negligence in connection with the sinking of the Gurita ferry off Aceh in January last year, Antara reported yesterday.

Ali Subagio, who gave the ferry the go-ahead to set sail, was found not guilty by the court Monday, the news agency said.

Presiding Judge Rapotan Harahap said the trial did not substantiate the charges and Ali had carried out his duty as required when administering the ship on Jan. 19.

The ferry, which was on its way to Weh Island opposite Banda Aceh, sank in bad weather. Only 39 people survived while 55 people were killed and the 283 declared missing have subsequently been pronounced dead.

Government prosecutors have said the ferry was overloaded and the port administrator should not have allowed it to set sail in the first place.

A maritime tribunal has also declared that the ferry sank because of bad weather and not because of overloading.

Mustaqim, who headed the prosecution team, immediately announced after the verdict that the government was appealing against the verdict, which he described as "controversial", Antara said.

The prosecutors earlier demanded a two-year jail term.

Ali, 37, is the first of two government officials standing trial in the Banda Aceh District Court in connection with the Gurita sinking.

The other is Achmadi Kusumo, 50, head of PT ASDP, the state- run company which operated the ferry. The government prosecutors are also demanding a two-year imprisonment on similar charges and the court is scheduled to make its ruling on Oct. 20.

Ali was delighted with the verdict and was immediately congratulated by colleagues, Antara said. (emb)