Relatives, friends may be hiding Metromini fugitive

Relatives, friends may be hiding Metromini fugitive

JP/3/Ramses/0

Relatives, friends may be hiding Metromini fugitive

JAKARTA (JP): Ramses Silitonga, the driver of the Metromini
minibus which careened into River Sunter with more than 40
passengers last month, might have been hidden by his relatives or
friends to elude capture, according to police.

"The interviews of his relatives and acquaintances as to his
whereabouts continues. So far, none have given any indication
that they know where (Silitonga) is," Lt. Col. Heru Susanto,
chief of the North Jakarta police precinct was quoted by Antara
as saying, Saturday.

Heru said police investigators were still in the field trying
to track down the fugitive.

"We believe he is still hiding himself here (in Jakarta) with
assistance from relatives and, perhaps, fellow drivers," said
Heru.

Ramses Silitonga, nicknamed Honas (a Batak word meaning
"pineapple"), was said to have jumped off the Metromini minibus
that he was driving just before it plunged into River Sunter.

A total of 33 passengers drowned in the 5-meter deep, muddy
and polluted river. A dozen others suffered serious injuries.

The accident, which occurred on March. 6 in North Jakarta, was
noted as the worst traffic accident for several years. The
incident has incited public wrath, and many have urged the
municipality to stage a large-scale safety campaign to reform the
current traffic situation.

In the wake of the incident, police staged a manhunt of Ramses
but currently they are empty handed and without any leads.

He reportedly received medical treatment for a broken arm at
the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital some hours after the
accident but later left the hospital stealthily. His whereabouts
remained a mystery to police ever since.

Denouncing the allegation that police were too slow in taking
up the search, Heru said Saturday police had unleased seven teams
of police man-hunters, including one group from the city police
headquarters. He added that this is a much larger manhunt than is
normally conducted by the city police.

"We are very serious about wrapping up the case," Heru
insisted.

An anonymous businessman recently promised via Kompas
newspaper to reward Rp 25 million (US$11,731) to anyone who
succeeded in capturing the fugitive. (jsk)