Scene of accident visit canceled

Scene of accident visit canceled

JAKARTA (JP): Judge Soemarjono of North Jakarta District Court yesterday canceled the on-site examination in the trial of Ramses Silitonga, a Metro Mini driver whose bus plunged into Sunter river, North Jakarta, in March last year killing 33 passengers.

Judge Thomas Sumardi, who assists Soemarjono during the trial, said that an expert witness from the city police headquarters, who was scheduled to give his testimony, was unable to appear in court due to health reasons.

Judge Thomas refused to name the witness.

It is alleged that on March 6 last year, Ramses drove a Metro Mini bus along Jl. Yos Sudarso in North Jakarta at a speed of between 70 and 90 kilometers per hour.

The prosecution claims that Ramses lost control of the bus which, shortly afterwards, plunged into the Sunter River. Twenty people died at the scene of the accident, 13 died later in hospital and another 13 were injured. (mas)