TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-run railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia or KAI said it would take legal action against people who throw stones at operating trains. The firm’s spokesman Joni Martinus said that based on the law, the perpetrator could be sentenced to life imprisonment if the act results in the death of victims.

“We strongly condemn the acts of vandalism in the form of throwing stones at trains because that can endanger the trip and injure passengers and officers. We will take legal action against anyone who is caught throwing stones at the train,” said Joni on Monday, September 20.

Joni explained the criminal penalty is regulated in the Criminal Code (KUHP) concerning crimes that endanger public security. Article 194(1) of the regulation stipulates that anyone who intentionally poses a danger to public traffic is threatened with a maximum imprisonment of 15 years.

While Article 194(2) states that if the act results in death, the perpetrator can be threatened with life imprisonment or up to 20 years behind bars. The ban on throwing stones at trains is also regulated in Law No. 23 of 2007 on railways.

“We appeal to the public not to throw stones at trains, for whatever reason, because the impact will be very dangerous for the train trip and the people on board,” said Joni.

KAI noted that for three years, the number of such vandalism cases remained high. There were 336 cases in 2018, 256 cases in 2019, and 125 cases in 2020. Meanwhile in 2021, until August, there have been 132 cases.

Read: KAI Issues New Travel Rules for Train Users

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA