Transportation Ministry to Prosecute Lion Air`s Bomb Joke Suspect

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said he will sue the suspect of bomb joke incident in Lion Air`s JT 687 flight from Pontianak to Cengkareng.

“We will use the incident as a momentum to prosecute the suspect,” said Budi Karya in Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday, May 30.

Minister Budi Karya claimed that he did not have intentions to conduct a repressive action against the public. However, considering the harm incurred from the action suspect did to passengers, Budi Karya admitted that a legal measure is needed to be taken.

According to Budi Karya, the suspect can be charged with a year imprisonment for providing a false bomb information. "If it hurts people in the incident, it can be prolonged to eight years (in prison)," he said.

Read: Lion Air Passenger who Made Bomb Joke Named Suspect 

From the previous false bomb incident, Budi Karya noticed that the ministry has not given a decent sanction for the suspects. They were only processed by the authorities by requesting information, taking recognition, and signing the minutes. 

Budi Karya planned to request reports from Pontianak Police Department the day after tomorrow. He further explained that the suspect is now still undergoing a police's examination.

Lion Air JT 687 passenger Frantinus Nirigi allegedly said there was a bomb on his bag on Monday night, May 28. “Do not store my bag roughly, there is a bomb inside,” he jokingly said to one of the flight attendants.

Some passenger opened the emergency window to exit the plane in panic. Eleven passengers were rushed to AURI hospital and several had to spend the night to be treated.

FRISKI RIANA