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Prosecutors accept new case file for Hatta’s son

Prosecutors say that they have accepted a new version of the case file of a minister’s son who was charged with reckless driving

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Wed, January 30, 2013

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Prosecutors accept new case file for Hatta’s son

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rosecutors say that they have accepted a new version of the case file of a minister’s son who was charged with reckless driving.

The acceptance of the police file by the Jakarta Prosecutor’s Office clears the way for trial preparations to begin for Rasyid Amrullah Rajasa, the son of Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, for reckless driving in an incident that led to two deaths.

“We will now speak to Rasyid’s attorneys and formally hand over the dossier to prosecutors for trial,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said on Tuesday at police headquarters in Central Jakarta.

“We hope the process can start immediately, even though Rasyid is still undergoing post-accident trauma treatment.”

Prosecutors released a statement on Tuesday confirming that the police had advised them that detectives had completed their dossier, indicating an end to the investigation.

The police initially submitted Rasyid’s dossier to prosecutors on Jan. 12, 11 days after the 22-year-old was involved in an accident that killed two.

Prosecutors returned it, as is their right under criminal procedure, claiming that the investigation was not complete, and the file was resubmitted on Jan. 22 with the additional material requested.

Among the new evidence included at prosecutors’ request was testimony from an expert witness and from representatives of BMW, which made Rasyid’s sedan, and Daihatsu, which made the van struck by Rasyid.

Although the dossier has been completed a second time, police must submit all their evidence to prosecutors and turn over custody of Rasyid for trial preparations to begin.

However, no timetable has been announced for transferring Rasyid.

“The police will wait when the suspect is ready,” Jakarta Police law enforcement sub-directorate chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sudarmanto said as quoted by kompas.com.

Rasyid has been charged with offenses under the 2009 Traffic and Public Transportation Law that carry a maximum sentence of six years’ imprisonment.

He was driving his BMW X5 at 120 kilometers per hour early on New Year’s Day when he rear-ended a Daihatsu Luxio on the Jagorawi toll road in East Jakarta. Two passengers of the Luxio were killed and three others injured in the collision.

Police said Rasyid, who tested negative for drugs and alcohol after the crash, had been drowsy after staying up all night to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Kemang, South Jakarta, with his girlfriend.

He was subsequently named a suspect by police. However — in an apparent departure from typical police practice — the minister’s son has not been detained, was allowed to receive medical treatment outside a police hospital, has no ban imposed on his overseas travel and has not been obliged to regularly report to the police. Police have instead accepted a verbal guarantee from Rasyid’s family that he would not return to London, where he attends university.

Meanwhile, national and local media outlets have lost track of Rasyid, prompting critics to say that he flouted his family’s promise so as to return to London for his examinations. Rasyid’s father, Hatta, said on Monday his son had been staying at home for treatment. (fzm)

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