Police to Interrogate Argo Bromo Anggrek Driver as Suspect
Police are set to schedule an interrogation of the Argo Bromo Anggrek train driver, identified by the initials AN, in his capacity as a suspect in the collision between the train and a Commuter Line (KRL) train at Bekasi Timur Station.
“The individual has been officially named a suspect, and we will issue a summons for him to undergo the examination process,” stated the Deputy Director of General Criminal Investigation at Metro Jaya Regional Police, AKBP I Dewa Anom Danujaya, at the Metro Jaya Regional Police headquarters on Tuesday (29/9).
Meanwhile, AKP Muhammad Rizka, Head of Unit 1 Sub-division 1 of the General Criminal Investigation Directorate at Metro Jaya Regional Police, mentioned that the interrogation of the driver is likely to be scheduled for next week.
“God willing, next week,” said Rizka.
Previously, the Metro Jaya Regional Police named the Argo Bromo Anggrek driver, AN, as a suspect in the accident involving the KRL at Bekasi Timur Station.
Anom stated that during the investigation process, the authorities had analysed the data logger. For context, a data logger is an electronic device that functions as a ‘black box’ to record various important operational parameters during a train’s journey.
Based on the data logger, Anom noted that the driver only applied the emergency brake when the train was 263 metres away from the point of impact with the KRL 5568.
“It was found that the emergency brake action performed by the Argo Bromo Anggrek driver occurred at 21:51:54, when the train was 263 metres from the collision point with the KRL 5568,” said Anom.
“Investigators concluded that the emergency brake should have been applied at a further distance than what was actually performed during the first braking attempt at the time of the accident,” he added.
In this case, the suspect faces charges under Articles 323 and/or 3ut 324 and/or 474 of the Criminal Code, as well as Articles 198 and/or 206 of Law Number 23 of 2007 concerning Railways, carrying a potential prison sentence of 5 to 12 years.
The accident involving the Argo Bromo Angkrek and the KRL Commuter Line at Bekasi Timur Station occurred on Monday (27/4) night.
The incident was triggered by a Green SM taxi stalling in the middle of a level crossing due to an electrical system failure. The vehicle was subsequently struck by the passing KRL.
As a result of the first accident, a KRL train bound for Cikarang came to an emergency stop at Bekasi Timur Station.
While stationary, the KRL train was struck from behind by the Argo Bromo Anggrek, causing the rear women-only carriage to be crushed and resulting in the loss of dozens of lives.