Minibus driver trial will proceed

Minibus driver trial will proceed

JAKARTA (JP): Judge Soemarjono of the North Jakarta District
Court decided yesterday to dismiss the defense's request to wave
charges against Ramses Silitonga, a Metromini bus driver who was
behind the wheel when his bus plunged into the Sunter river in
North Jakarta last year killing 33 passengers.

During the previous trial Ramses's lawyer, Victor Siahaan,
requested that the judge annul the indictment of H.P.W. Soekewi,
the prosecutor who has charged Ramses with murder, on the grounds
that the charge was tendentious and exaggerated.

Siahaan said that it was the first time in the history of
Indonesian law that someone involved in a traffic accident had
been charged with murder. "It is unprecedented, and therefore we
strongly reject the charges," he said.

The prosecutor, however, said that an indictment could only be
dismissed if it misidentified the defendant or if it was
proffered in a court lacking jurisdiction to hear the trial.

Judge Soemarjono was quoted by Antara yesterday as saying that
the board of judges agreed with the prosecutor's argument that
the defense request is groundless.

The judge then decided to proceed according to Soekewi's
indictment and to continue with the examination of witnesses.

It is alleged that on March 6 last year, Ramses drove a
Metromini (smaller-sized) bus along Jl. Yos Sudarso in North
Jakarta at a speed of between 80 and 90 kilometers per hour.
According to the prosecution case, he continued speeding despite
pleas from the conductor, Pontas Pakpahan, and a number of
passengers that reminded him that there were children aboard.

The prosecution claims that Ramses then lost control of the
bus which, shortly afterwards, plunged into the Sunter River.

Twenty people died at the accident scene immediately, another
13 later in the hospital and 13 were injured.

Ramses, 33, evaded the police and went into hiding in North
Sumatra, his home province. Police finally managed to arrest the
culprit in August, despite an attempt made by Ramses to change
his identity.

Police said Ramses had been living in the village of Tanjung
Mulia in the Kampung Rakyat district, Labuhan Batu regency. He
had been working for PT Pemudjur, a timber mill, under the name
of Ucok Sitompul.

Judge Soemarjono adjourned the trial until Jan. 26. (mas)