No release for driver, despite public apology

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The family of Aradea Kusumah Diningrat, a driver whose Honda City plowed into a group of Sunday morning joggers last month, has made a "peace pact" with the families of the four people killed in the accident, who have in turn asked that the suspect be released from detention.

But Comr. Naufal Yahya, head of the Jakarta Police Traffic Law Enforcement Division, rejected the request on Wednesday, saying the man would be prosecuted.

"We feel it would be morally wrong to release him during investigation as four people lost their lives in the accident," he said.

It is common for the family of a suspect in a road accident to compensate the victims for medical costs and for any losses inflicted. However, it does not necessarily mean that the police will drop criminal charges.

"If the victims and the suspect have made an agreement and the victims do not wish to file a lawsuit, the police can immediately drop the case," Naufal said. "Yet, considering the death toll, we have decided to keep him here in detention."

Aradea has been detained since March 14, after he crashed his silver sedan into the group of joggers on Jl. Jend. Sudirman in South Jakarta.

He was reportedly speeding from his house in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Tangerang.

Raslan, 27, a resident of Semanan, Kalideres, West Jakarta; Hasrul Hakim, 36, a resident of Cipinang, East Jakarta; Suyatmo, 34, a resident of Palmerah, West Jakarta; and Abbas Hasan, 36, of Kampung Rawa, Johar Baru, Central Jakarta, died at the scene.

Three others were also injured in the incident, namely Yudi Wicaksono, 28, whose left arm was broken and head bruised; Ilham Sentosa, 43, whose left leg was broken and cut; and Muasrif, whose legs were bruised.

Aradea is accused of violating Article 359 of the Criminal Code on manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Previously, police revealed that methamphetamine had been detected in Aradea's urine sample. The substance is largely used to make drugs, such as ecstasy.