Hotel Indonesia crash suspect’s dossier “will be ready in 3-4 days”

Sr. Comr. Rikwanto: (Kompas/Sabrina Asril)

The Jakarta Police said on Monday that they had completed the investigation on the traffic accident in which drunk driver Dharshan Sutrisna crashed his vehicle onto the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and killed a busker on early July 23.

“Detectives are currently compiling the case dossier, which we hope will be submitted to the city prosecutors’ office in three or four days,” police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told reporters.

He confirmed that only Dharshan’s traffic case would meet that deadline, as detectives were still investigating the suspect’s drug abuse.

“[Dharshan] still gives convoluted statements regarding where, when, and from whom he purchased the drugs,” he said.

Dharshan had tested positive for MDMA and methamphetamine, which are found in ecstasy pills and crystal methamphetamine, respectively, in a drug test administered by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

The police will likely charge Dharshan with drug abuse under the 2009 Narcotics Law following the positive results of the drug test.

In the traffic case, Dharshan is charged with causing death by reckless driving under Articles 310 and 311 of the 2009 Traffic Law, as well as driving without proper license under Article 281 of the same law, and faces up to 12 years’ imprisonment.

Dharshan was reportedly driving his Mercedes Benz sedan at high speed at around 3 a.m. on Monday last week when he “lost control of the vehicle” and crashed into the traffic circle, striking two vendors who were drinking coffee and killing another man.

Police said that Dharshan told investigators that he had consumed wine and vodka before the incident.

They also revealed on Thursday last week that a crime scene investigation had proven that Dharsan was accompanied by a friend, identified as Asad, at the time of the incident.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto, however, revealed on Monday that there were actually five people inside the car at the time. Apart from Dharshan and Asad, the other three individuals were identified as Amanda, Nani Wijaya, and Febrianti.

“They all ran away after the crash but have been cooperative when we contacted them later on. As Dharshan was tested positive for drugs, we tested them, too. The tests came out negative.” (iwa)