Probe on 'Gurita' tragedy continues

Probe on 'Gurita' tragedy continues

JAKARTA (JP): Police have collected the signatures of hundreds
of witnesses necessary for court proceedings in the case of the
Gurita ferry which sank off Banda Aceh waters in January and
claimed 338 lives.

The signatures are needed to complete reports to be sent to
the High Prosecutor's Office. Aceh Police Chief Col. A. Hamid
Busra confirmed the signature collection while Aceh Vice Governor
Brig. Gen. Zainuddin AG said they are needed to facilitate
further examinations.

The ferry sank while sailing from Malahayati/Krueng Raya near
Banda Aceh to Sabang, the main town on Weh Island opposite Aceh.

The police and the provincial administration's fact-finding
teams have ended their own investigation and submitted the
results to Minister Haryanto Dhanutirto and President Soeharto.

Zainuddin said the police have previously handed the dossiers
on people suspected of being responsible for the accident to the
prosecutor's office. However, the dossiers were recently returned
because they were considered incomplete.

Hamid said his office will complete the dossiers within three
days.

The police, who lost six officers in the tragedy, announced
recently that six people were directly responsible for the
tragedy: two port officials and four officials of PT ASDP, the
state-owned ferry service company.

He denied the suggestion that the list of suspects might grow.

The charges against the suspects will include negligence,
filing false reports, and endangering the lives of others, he
said.

The 1970-model Gurita was operated by the government-owned
River, Lake and Crossing Transportation Services and had been
refitted with a new engine. (31)