'Gurita' disaster suspect walks free

'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)