Jembrana Palm Sap Farmer Breaks Leg After Being Snared by Dangling WiFi Cable
A resident of Manistutu Village, Melaya District, Jembrana, I Ngurah Putu Oka, suffered an accident resulting in a broken leg after being snared by a WiFi cable dangling across the main road. Oka is the latest victim of the chaotic internet network cabling in the region known as Gumi Makepung.
According to a police report, Oka was involved in a single-vehicle accident on the Denpasar-Gilimanuk Highway in Banyubiru Village, Negara District, on Saturday (1/8/2026) at around 11.45 Wita. Oka was riding a Smash motorcycle with registration number DK 3637 WS.
At the time of the incident, Oka was travelling from the east (Denpasar) towards the west (Gilimanuk). Upon reaching the location, he did not see the cable hanging low across the road. His motorcycle struck the cable directly, causing him to lose control and fall.
The victim’s son, I Komang Pande Suartawan (36), explained that his father was delivering palm sap to several food stalls in Negara town when the incident occurred.
“As the cable was hanging low, my father happened to pass by and his neck was snared by the cable, causing him to fall and suffer a broken right leg,” Pande stated when contacted on Tuesday (4/8/2026).
As a result of the incident, the victim sustained a broken right leg and his motorcycle was damaged at the front. Oka now faces the prospect of being unable to work again due to the permanent injury he suffered.
“My father’s condition is still resting; he has had surgery and was discharged today. My father is a palm sap farmer and delivers sap to food stalls. Now he is disabled for life and can no longer work,” Pande said.
Pande expressed regret over the internet cable operator’s attitude. According to him, there has been no goodwill or serious response from the provider. They only briefly offered compensation deemed grossly inadequate.
“We exchanged messages via short message and were offered compensation of Rp 500,000. From the time he returned from the hospital, the provider has given no response at all. The provider is deliberately slowing down the process,” Pande asserted.
Pande also lamented the slow handling of the report by the police. The report was only processed again when he was arranging the administrative requirements for the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan).
“At the time of the incident, I immediately reported it to the police, but there was no follow-up whatsoever. Only today, when I was dealing with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan matters at the police station, was a report made again. I wonder why. As for summoning the provider, a summons letter from the Negara Police Sector was only issued today,” Pande added.
Meanwhile, the Negara Police Sector Chief, AKP Andi Prasetio, had not provided any comment regarding the incident at the time this report was published.