From: John MacDougall <apakabar@access.digex.net>
Subject: IN: KMP - Police Determine Gurita Suspects
Kompas - All translations 'as received.' - John
Kompas Online
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Kamis, 15 Februari 1996
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POLICE DETERMINE 6 SUSPECTS IN THE GURITA INCIDENT
* Number of passengers confirmed at 378
Banda Aceh, Kompas Online
Six people were identified by regional chief of police in Aceh Colonel
Abdul Hamid Busra as being responsible for the sinking on the Gurita
ferry in the Balohan Bay near Sabang on 19 January 1996.
After the tragic incident 54 people killed, 40 people made it to
safety while an hundreds of passengers are still missing. According
the passenger list, the Gurita, a Japanese vessel built in 1970, was
only thought to have been carrying 210 passengers. Subsequent reports
reveal that this number actually reached 378.
On Friday (16/2) the Governor of Aceh Syamsuddin Mahmud together with
the Minister of Transportation will present a report, compiled by a
working team under the direction of Deputy Governor Brigadier General
Zainuddin, to President Soeharto.
According to Abdul Hamid Busra the six people responsible for the
incident includes the Head of the Branch and the Head of the Operation
of River and Sea Vessels (ASDP) in Banda Aceh, the port officer for
the Malahayati Harbor (Aceh), a staff from the port office authority
and two ticket sales employees. Abdul Hamid Busra revealed these
findings on Wednesday (14/2) in front of court officials and
representatives from the military police.
Although none of the accused had been arrested, Col. Abdul Hamid Busra
said they would be removed from their current duties. According to the
Colonel, the suspects had violated chapter 359, 263 and 338 of the
criminal code (KUHP) as well as a 1982 legislation on sea-passenger
safety.
Chapter 359 deals with instances where employees have neglected their
duties which has inturn lead to the death of another person. Chapter
263 concerns the falsification of documents while chapter 338 is
connected to murder, punishable by a 15-year prison term.
Abdul Hamid Busra indicated there may eventually be more than six
suspects as explanations from 60 witnesses were still being heard.
The Head of Regional Office of the Department of Transportation
Soemartono was called as a witness for hearing by the police, he
didn't come. He hastily went to Jakarta.
Of the 94 bodies discovered only 41 were listed in manifest. Since the
accident the hands, feet, skulls and other body parts have been
discovered by fishermen and in the stomachs of three sharks. As of
Sunday (11/2) these body parts were still being held at the police
headquarters in Banda Aceh.*
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