TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Dangdut singer could face reckless driving charges

Dangdut singer Saipul Jamil could be named a suspect in the death of his recently wedded wife Virginia Anggraini, who died in a car accident while he was driving, police say

Hans David Tampubolon (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, September 6, 2011

Share This Article

Change Size

Dangdut singer could face reckless driving charges

D

angdut singer Saipul Jamil could be named a suspect in the death of his recently wedded wife Virginia Anggraini, who died in a car accident while he was driving, police say.

Virginia, who was two-months pregnant, died when her car, driven by Saipul, rolled over in a high speed crash on the Cipularang Toll Road connecting Jakarta and Bandung, West Java, on Saturday.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said Saipul ought to take responsibility for the accident, because his reckless driving had resulted in a death.

Anton said that Saipul could be charged with Article 310 of Law No. 22/2009 on traffic, which carries a maximum sentence of six years.

Anton said that Saipul had likely been driving recklessly, despite having 10 passengers in his wife’s Toyota Avanza, which has a capacity of six passengers.

“He is now being questioned as a witness because we know that he is still grieving. But soon he will be questioned as a suspect,” Anton said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.

Anton said that as a driver, Saipul took full responsibility for the safety of his passengers.

Police also said that the Avanza had been poorly maintained, and had faulty brakes.

“The brakes only worked on one side of the car,” Anton said.

Saipul, who married Virginia in March this year, had earlier said that the dysfunctional brakes were the cause of the accident.

He said that the accident occurred when the car suddenly became unstable.

“I was holding the wheel. Suddenly the car lost balance. There was a strong wind. The brakes failed, the car became uncontrollable and crashed into a road divider,” he said.

Virginia, who sat on the right side of the car, died instantly, while passengers Hafiah, Imas Irma and Arum Suharti, relatives of Saipul, sustained severe injuries.

Virginia was buried at Baros Cemetery in Cimahi, West Java, on the day of the accident.

The section of the highway where the accident happened, a long straight section where drivers tend to drive fast, is infamous for road accidents.

Saipul said on Monday that he was shocked to learn that police were considering naming him a suspect.

“I don’t understand, I am still grieving,” he told reporters.

Saipul also said that he had not been driving recklessly, and that the police had no grounds for claiming that he was responsible for the crash.

“I have not been questioned,” he said.

Saipul, who is known for numerous publicity stunts, said that he harbored no ill intentions for his pregnant wife.

“I never wished for something like this to happen. I will explain all later, I will answer all the questions. I just do not want to stir things up right now,” he said.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.