TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - First Grade Police Inspector Wagino S., Head of Police Pangkalan Baru Sector, Central Bangka, Bangka Belitung Island stated that the investigation towards Sriwijaya Air’s stewardess slapping suspect, Zakaria Umar Hadi, is still in process. Zakaria is Head of Bangka Belitung Province Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) who hit a Sriwijaya Air flight attendant, Febriani.
"The investigation is still ongoing," Wagino told Tempo on Thursday.
Previously, Sriwijaya Air spokesman Agus Sujono informed that the violent act happened when the airplane was landing. He said that before the plane was about to take off, Febriani had also asked Zakaria to turn off his cellphone. "It happened repetitively. The man had been reminded during take-off, but he tried to use his cellphone again when the plane was landing," said Agus.
Upon the repeated warning, Zakaria began to become annoyed and threw a tantrum. He slapped Febriani’s left cheek and ears with a newspaper. "We could confirm that there had been physical violence. She was indeed slapped," Agus confirmed.
Agus regrets Zakaria’s response to the Sriwijaya Air flight attendant's warning. He said that Febriani was merely enforcing the common procedure for the sake of passengers’ safety. "Upon warning, he should have apologized. On the contrary, he did a completely different action," he said.
The incident happened on a flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, flight number SJ078. Febriani is one of Sriwijaya Air’s senior flight attendants with a flight experience of over than 5 years.
According to Wagino, there has yet been an official confirmation on Zakaria’s motive to hit Febriani. He ensured that Zakaria will be charged with Article 351 of Indonesian Penal Code on maltreatment. "After the investigation, we will immediately know the conjunction," said Wagino.
LINDA HAIRANI
