'Metromini' bus driver charged with murder

'Metromini' bus driver charged with murder

JAKARTA (JP): The driver of a "Metromini" (smaller-sized) bus was charged in court yesterday with the murder of 33 passengers who died when his bus plunged into the Sunter River, North Jakarta, in March last year.

State prosecutors told the North Jakarta District Court that the death of the 33 passengers should be viewed as a willful murder by Ramses Silitonga, alias "Honas" and "Ucok Sitompul". He had ignored repeated warnings from his own conductor and some of the 46 passengers, the court heard. If found guilty as charged under article 338 of the Criminal Code, Ramses faces a maximum of 15 years imprisonment.

Ramses, 33 years old, fled the scene of what was widely regarded to have been one of the worst road accidents in Indonesian history, and a nationwide manhunt for him was launched by the police.

Several entrepreneurs even offered rewards for anyone who could come up with information of his whereabouts. Ramses was arrested in August after someone informed police that he was hiding in North Sumatra, his home province.

Yesterday, he appeared at the court wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and black trousers. He was immediately whisked to the waiting room and had to wait for about 55 minutes before being led into the court room for the arraignment.

The prosecutors backed up their case with lesser charges, including criminally negligent driving. That offense is punishable with 5 years imprisonment. He was also charged with intentionally causing injury to others, which is punishable with up to two years imprisonment.

The accident horrified the nation, with newspapers and television providing pictures of the victims being fished out of the muddy, oily river. It prompted calls for the police to be tougher with reckless bus drivers. In the months that followed the disaster, several Metromini buses which had been involved in traffic accidents were set on fire by angry crowds.

The prosecutors said that on that fateful Sunday morning, on March 6, 1994, Ramses had driven the bus along Jl. Yos Sudarso at a speed of between 80 and 90 kilometers per hour. The bus had been serving the P-07 route from Semper to Senen,

He had ignored pleas to slow down from his conductor Pontas Pakpahan and from a number of passengers, who had reminded him that there were children on board the bus, the prosecutors said.

Ramses eventually lost control of the vehicle and it veered over a pedestrian crossing, plunging into the Sunter river.

Twenty people died at the scene of the accident and 13 others died subsequently, in hospital.

The trial is being presided over by Judge Soemarjono, who is assisted by Thomas Soemardi and Judo Suratmo. The prosecuting team consists of H.P.W. Soekewi, Haruddin and Chanifuddin. The defendant is accompanied by five lawyers led by Victor Siahaan.

The hearing was adjourned to Jan. 16, when Ramses' lawyers will present their defense. (emb)