Three more testify against bus driver

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Three more witnesses testifying in the trial of a Kramatdjati driver charged with the deaths of 31 people told the Bogor District Court yesterday that the bus appeared out of nowhere and slammed into three stationary cars.

All 31 passengers were incinerated inside the bus, as was another passenger in a jeep in the horrifying incident on March 23 on the Jagorawi toll road.

The witnesses, Sarpokat, Sujoto and Riyadi, all policemen from Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters, were traveling on March 23 in a convoy heading for Puncak when they noticed that the radiator in their car, a Daihatsu Zebra van, was low on water.

Just as they, and the two other cars in the convoy, pulled over to the side of the toll road side the bus ran into them.

"Upon impact I fell backward unconscious," Sarpokat said. "But I soon regained consciousness and put water into the radiator. I had no idea why the bus suddenly went up in flames."

Another officer, Sujoto, said that his wife was burned to death beyond recognition.

Sujoto's wife, not in the bus, was one of the passengers of the jeeps parked on the shoulder.

According to Riyadi, he and another policeman, Ridwan Silalahi, rushed to the scene and caught the bus driver, Ag, bin Yacob.

"When I caught Ag he said he wasn't the bus driver but one of the passengers. His behavior gave the impression that he was either drunk or high on drugs," said Sujoto.

"He looked weak and dazed and later we found some barbiturates in his pocket," he added.

As in previous sessions nothing untoward happened during yesterday's trial session, which was only attended by 20 people.

At the behest of prosecutor Razali, presiding judge Usman Wahab adjourned the trial until next Monday. (21/bas)