The fatal driving under influence (DUI) of alcohol and drug accident has shocked many people and received reactions from various quarters.Jakarta, Jan 31 (ANTARA) - A beautiful Sunday morning turned into a nightmare for Teguh Hadi Purnomo and his six relatives, who hailed from Jepara, Central Java, when suddenly a minivan hit them and killed four of them.
Teguh and his family members had just returned from sightseeing at the National Monument (Monas) Park when the car driven by allegedly drug- and alcohol-influenced Apriyani Susanti ran over them and three other pedestrians on a sidewalk near a bus stop in Gambir, Central Jakarta, and killed nine people and injured three others on January 22, 2012.
Teguh`s son, younger sister, aunt and a niece died in the accident, while Teguh himself, his wife and nephew were injured. Three other pedestrians also died at the scene, while an additional two died in hospital.
Those killed included Moch Hudzaifah alias Ujay (16), Firmansyah (21), Suyatmi (51), Yusuf Sigit (2.5), Ari (16), Nanik Riyanti (25), Fifit Alfia Fitriasih (18), Muhammad Akbar (23), and Wawan (17).
Apriyani (29), who was riding with her three colleagues in the rented car, was driving at a speed of about 100 km per hour, according to some witnesses.
The night before the accident, they had taken drugs and alcohol at a cafe in South Jakarta and later proceeded to a five-star hotel in Central Jakarta to attend a birthday party.
"The results of urine tests on her and her three friends in the car show they had taken ecstasy," Jakarta Police spokesman Rikhwanto said a day after the horrific crash.
When police questioned her after the accident she proved not to have a driver`s license (SIM) nor could she produce the car`s registration certificate (STNK).
Apriyani will face charges under the 2009 Traffic Law for causing a fatal traffic accident, not having a valid driver`s license or registration, and not concentrating while driving. She may face up to six years in prison, along with a fine of Rp 12 million (US$1,344), if found guilty.
The four suspects have also been charged under the 2009 Narcotics Law for narcotics abuse and may face up to four years` imprisonment if found guilty.
The fatal driving under influence (DUI) of alcohol and drug accident has shocked many people and received reactions from various quarters.
"The Jakarta Police are continuing their investigation, not only into the fatal accident, but also on the drug abuse [issue]," National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo said at the State Palace recently.
The Jakarta Police planned to carry out drug raids in the city`s nightclubs, following its findings concerning the deadly DUI accident.
House Speaker Marzuki Ali said law enforcers must give a harsh penalty to the drunken and "high" driver.
"She must be given a harsh sentence so as to deter other reckless car drivers and prevent a recurrence of traffic accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs," he said in Jakarta recently.
He said this was not the first traffic accident caused by a driver under the influence (DUI) of narcotic drugs or alcoholic beverages.
"This incident cannot be ignored. The driver must be given a harsh sentence so that it will not recur, so that no more innocent people fall victim to the irresponsible acts of consumers of alcoholic drinks or narcotic drugs," he said.
Marzuki urged the police should give drivers random blood-alcohol breath tests, as is commonly done abroad. "If a driver is proven to have consumed alcohol beyond the legal amount and it affects their consciousness, then they would automatically be sanctioned on the spot," he said.
Sweeps against alcoholic drinks were not being done routinely while it was very important to prevent accidents, he stated.
"Overseas I have often seen police officers conducting a sweep to find drivers consuming alcoholic drinks. The drivers in the operation are requested to undergo an alcohol test by inhaling an instrument that could determine the drivers` alcoholic content in their blood," he said.
If the drivers are proven consuming alcohol above the legal limit they are directly given sanctions and "if the violation is serious they will have their licenses revoked at the scene and they could only get it back through various psychological tests."
He regretted that no strict action had so far been taken against drivers that consumed alcoholic drinks and narcotic drugs. Strict action would only be taken when the drivers were involved in accidents, he added.
To entertainment center operators Marzuki also appealed to regulate against customers that consumed alcohol too much. He also requested guests who come to the centers by car to be aware of how dangerous consuming alcohol or illegal drugs could be and not to consume alcohol at all.
"I ask entertainment operators to assign people to watch their guests at the parking lot so that they could prevent drunk guests from driving. They could do it by keeping their cars and asked to use taxis. I think many countries also do it," he said.
Another strong reaction came from Coordinating Minister for the People`s Welfare Agung Laksono who urged the police to level multiple charges against Apriyani.
He also hoped a court would pass a heavy sentence on her as a warning to all drug users in the country of the hazards of their habit.
"The law enforcers in this case should take care not to be seen as weak. If necessary, give her the heaviest possible sentence so as to deter other drug users or reckless drivers, " he said in Manado, North Sulawesi, on January 28, 2012.
A severe sentence for drug abuse would help to make the public respect law enforcing agencies, he added.
Agung said he had talked with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the police about tackling the threat of drug abuse as had happened in Apriani`s case.
The tragedy that Apriani had caused was a good momentum to revive the public`s awareness about the dangers of narcotic drug consumption, he stated.
"At present, only 50 percent to 60 percent of Indonesian society are aware of the dangers of narcotic drug consumption. The Apriani case is a momentum to remind the public," Agung said.
The majority of drug users in Indonesia was in the productive age category , namely 15 to 25 years old.
Apriani and her three colleagues - Adistria Putri Grani (26), Deny Mulyana (30), and Arisendi (34)- who have been named suspects, will soon undergo psychotests.
Director of the Jakarta Police`s Illicit Drug Directorate Nugroho Aji said Monday (January 30) that investigators wanted to know the psychological state of the four suspects.
Although during interrogations they did not have psychological problems, police investigators wanted to ascertain their mental condition, he said.
Besides, the police also planned to take them to the Drug Addiction Hospital (RSKO) to check whether they were drug addicts or not, although they had told the police that they were not drug addicts because they just consumed illicit drugs once or twice, he added.
According to police records, in 2010, the death toll of traffic accidents was 31,234 people in Indonesia. Of the number , 67 percent were people aged 22-50 years.
In Jakarta and its environs alone, around 1,000 people died in traffic accidents in 2010, according to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police mid last year.
Traffic Director of the Jakarta Police Senior Commissioner Royke Lumowa in June 2011 said the traffic accident-related deaths in the city was quite high, and serious efforts were needed to bring the situation under control. Most of the deaths were motorcycle-related, and involved individuals aged 16 to 25 years old. (*)
Reporter: By Fardah
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
