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Bus driver in deadly Cisarua crash facing 12 years in jail
ANTARA/JafkhairiBogor Police will charge the 43-year-old driver of the Karunia Bakti bus that plunged into a ravine, killing 14 people, with recklessness resulting in death under the articles 310 and 311 of the Traffic Law, which sees him facing up to 12 years in prison
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span class="inline inline-left">ANTARA/JafkhairiBogor Police will charge the 43-year-old driver of the Karunia Bakti bus that plunged into a ravine, killing 14 people, with recklessness resulting in death under the articles 310 and 311 of the Traffic Law, which sees him facing up to 12 years in prison.
“From all of the investigations we have conducted, we will still charge him with those two articles. The suspect is now in our custody,” Bogor Traffic Police chief Adj. Comr. Syarif Zaenal Abidin told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. He added that 25 witnesses have been questioned.
The Karunia Bakti bus plunged into a ravine in Cisarua, Bogor, West Java, on Friday evening.
The horrific crash left 14 dead and 57 others injured.
The bus, en route to Jakarta from Garut, West Java, smashed into four cars and several motorcycles before swerving across the highway, hitting another bus and a minivan. It then plunged into a ravine after smashing into a food stall, killing the seller, and a building.
The driver and his crew reportedly fled the scene. The driver, identified as L, was apprehended Saturday by the Bogor Police, along with crew members DJ and R.
The Transportation Ministry suspended the operating permit of the Karunia Bakti company serving the Garut-Jakarta route. The move was made pending the completion of investigations by the police and the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).
The ministry may revoke the operating permit if the police and KNKT team finds irregularities.
Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan also admitted that many transportation inspectors have not performed well, which contributed to a recent string of accidents. “Right now, we are working hand-in-hand with the Home Ministry’s inspectorate general to inspect and re-examine these examiners, ensuring that they are well-prepared to perform their duties,” Bambang told the Post.
He said the ministry would work with the National Police to tighten requirements for those taking public transportation license tests.
The ministry has been widely criticized as the organization responsible for recent deadly crashes.
House transportation commission deputy chief Nusyirwan Soejono has said that the lack of monitoring by the ministry was the main reason why bus companies do not carry out frequent vehicle maintenance.
